story1187.xml

story1187.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-19

As I have relocated to Canada after graduating at Gallaudet University 4 months earlier, I was just settling in a new apartment home only days before the tragedy hit. Less than 6 weeks to September 11, 2001, I left Washington, DC, I behind my many dear American friends whom I called my great big "family" of hearts. My last "home" was a VOA housing up on Columbia Pike, where I was doing some volunteering and helping other Washingtonians and Virginians getting about their day. That place is only two bus stops from the Pentagon Metro. Right on Columbia Pike, gosh, I remember it so well. Met wonderful people young and old, those folks need help and support of moral kindness. Wished I could do more, but my Mom in Canada has been very ill so I decided to head home, took Amtrak Superliner to my other favorite visitor's spot, Chicago, Illinois then switched trains to Northern Express to Grand Forks, North Dakota, Canada's southernmost neighbor and best friend to the South. Along wit! hme, I took home, a toy American eagle from Nature's company store at the Pentagon City store, I called him, "Rummy." Gosh, I am gonna miss the states so much and I cried on the train, looked out at the great sights of Harpers Ferry, Washington skyline, and Chicago's skyscrapers, the Sears Towers, man ... this is America the Beautiful, now arriving to the golden plains of America, to be home.

Just moved in my apartment on 3rd, still got my things in storage in Arlington, Virginia only a mile or two from the grandest favorite "the Pentagon" and had made arrangements to have my belongings transferred from Washington, DC to Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA, arrived much later towards October.

That morning, for four years I always had that 24K gold necklace chain round my neck, is gone forever. That is September 11, 2001. I was sleeping on the cot with lots of pillows and blankets, a bit like Scandinavia style of sleeping. I woke up, swore at myself, to get up, get up, get up, get up ... was "disturbed like an angry eagle" awaken by the angry spirits. That was 0735 CDT (Central Time) So I got up on my feet, my tee shirt and pants still on, made coffee on. Turned on my computer, saw my friend from New Jersey being online, I guess he was doing emails -- but he was supposed to be going to one of his classes that morning. At 0743 CDT, I was puzzled, so okay I decided to send him an online greeting, "Good Morning" and he told me all of a sudden, to turn on CNN. And I said, "What a morning why I am so upset, waking up like this, now what's on CNN? Another major earthquake??" He swore it is not a Clancy movie anymore, that the World Trade Center was hit by a ! jumbo jet. With awe and horror in my eyes, I could not believe what I was seeing, I knew it I swore to myself that I finally figured it out why I woke up in such an upset state. Then I was watching Aaron Brown of CNN, in New York with the WTC scene behind him, I saw another plane actually going in for the South Tower which I knew my friend Nicky was a worker of Cantor-Fitzgerald. I screamed. I cried all day, and worse when I learned of the Pentagon being hit, and God knows one of my friends over there might get hurt, God I hoped not! It did not turn out what I hoped that they are safe, as three weeks later I found out three of my Pentagon friends have died.

Worse, my things arrived from Washington on Sept. 27th, some boxes had burnt smell, in my books, brought me sharp memories of September 11, 2001, right in my home! So I could not touch them until in late December, was not emotionally ready for it. Oh, I was torn apart inside since the sad day that changed America, the World and all of us here. I worried so much for my dozens of friends in Washington, DC for anthrax attacks, really scared for my dear friends' safety! And the war in Afghanistan did bring some hope and triumph but when American soldiers, I still cry. I cried so many times, every time I hear America patriotic songs, especially "God Bless America" and the pipes playing "Amazing Grace" also the bugle "Taps," too hard for me to take. This is too much, too strong to make me cry. Now my heart is so close to America, much closer than ever!! Especially to Washington, DC, once my home of 6 great years of those I studied there, majored in political sciences, ! loved every minute there! Now this is sad it hit Washington, DC, like a hole in my heart and it still hurt. Though, never married I pretty much try to be handling emotional needs on my own, even though I held on to my little eaglet "Rummy" if I needed some consolation.

This is the chapter in the human history no one will ever forget, that no one will ever be the same ever again. I do not think this chapter will ever end as long as we fight against terrorism!! That's my story. I am no longer my former self, but more stronger, more vigilant, and more aware of the dangers of the hidden enemy that lives far or near. Be on guard for your country and God bless America and the rest of the world affected by the terrible occurrence in our time. I love you Americans!!!!






As I have relocated to Canada after graduating at Gallaudet University 4 months earlier, I was just settling in a new apartment home only days before the tragedy hit. Less than 6 weeks to September 11, 2001 I left Washington DC, I behind my many dear American friends whom I called my great big "family" of hearts. My last "home" was a VOA housing up on Columbia Pike, where I was doing some volunteering and helping other Washingtonians and Virginians getting about their day. That place is only two bus stops from the Pentagon Metro. Right on Columbia Pike, gosh, I remember it so well. Met wonderful people young and old, those folks need help and support of moral kindness. Wished I could do more, but my mom in Canada has been veru ill so I decided to head home, took Amtrak Superliner to my other favorite visitor's spot, Chicago, Illinois then switched trains to Northern Express to Grand Forks, North Dakota, Canada's southermost neighbor and best friend to the south. Along with me, I took home, a toy American eagle from Nature's company store at the Pentagon City store, I called him, "Rummy". Gosh, I am gonna miss the states so much and I cried on the train, looked out at the great sights of Harpers Ferry, Washington skyline, and Chicago's skyscrapers, the Sears Towers, man... this is America the Beautiful, now arriving to the golden plains of America, to be home.

Just moved in my apartment on 3rd, still got my things in storage in Arlington, Virginia only a mile or two from the grandest favorite "the Pentagon" and had made arrangements to have my belongings transferred from Washington DC to Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA, arrived much later towards October.

That morning, for four years I always had that 24K gold necklace chain round my neck, is gone forever. That is September 11, 2001. I was sleeping on the cot with lots of pillows and blankets, a bit like Scandinavia style of sleeping. I woke up, swore at myself, to get up, get up, get up, get up .... was "disturbed like an angry eagle" awaken by the angry spirits. That was 0735 CDT (Central Time) So I got up on my feet, my tee shirt and and pants still on, made coffee on. Turned on my computer, saw my friend from New Jersey being online, I guess he was doing emails - but he was supposed to be going to one of his classes that morning. At 0743 CDT, I was puzzled, so okay I decided to send him an online greeting, "Good Morning" and he told me all of a sudden, to turn on CNN. And I said, "what a morning why I am so upset, waking up like this, now what's on CNN? Another major earthquake??" He swore it is not a Clancy movie anymore, that the World Trade Center was hit by a jumbo jet. With awe and horror in my eyes, I could not believe what I was seeing, I knew it I swore to myself that I finally figured it out why I woke up in such an upset state. Then I was watching Aaron Brown of CNN, in New York withthe WTC scene behind him, I saw another plane actually going in for the South Tower which I knew my friend Nicky was a worker of Cantor-Fitzgerald. I screamed. I cried all day, and worse when I learned of the Pentagon being hit, and God knows one of my friends over there might get hurt, God I hoped not! It did not turn out what I hoped that they are safe, as three weeks later I found out three of my Pentagon friends have died.

Worse, my things arrived from Washington on Sept. 27th, some boxes had burnt smell, in my books, brought me sharp memories of September 11, 2001 right in my home! So I could not touch them until in late December, was not emotionally ready for it. Oh, I was torn apart inside since the sad day that changed America, the World and all of us here. I worried so much for my dozens of friends in Washington DC for anthrax attacks, really scared for my dear friends' safety! And the war in Afghanistan did bring some hope and triump but when American soldiers, I still cry. I cried so many times, every time I hear America patriotic songs, especially "God Bless America" and the pipes playing "Amazing Grace" also the bugle "Taps", too hard for me to take. This is too much, too strong to make me cry. Now my heart is so close to America, much closer than ever!! Especially to Washington DC, once my home of 6 great years of those I studied there, majored in political sciences, loved every minute there!! Now this is sad it hit Washington DC, like a hole in my heart and it still hurt. Though, never married I pretty much try to be handling emotional needs on my own, even though I held on to my little eaglet "Rummy" if I needed some consolation.

This is the chapter in the human history no one will ever forget, that no one will ever be the same ever again. I do not think this chapter will ever end as long as we fight against terrorism!! That's my story. I am no longer my former self, but more stronger, more viligant, and more aware of the dangers of the hidden enemy that lives far or near. Be on guard for your country and God bless America and the rest of the world affected by the terrible occurence in our time. I love you Americans!!!!