story308.xml

story308.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-03-24

This day started much like many others, that I have had since May 15th of this year, that was the day that my Dr. told me that I couldn't do my job any longer due to the diease that I have, My chosen carrer is truck driver, and I have been doing that for 33 years, so my spirits have been down this year anyhow. But on this day I had been asked to move a friend's boat to a facility so it could be winterized. On the way to the boat dock, my friend told me that one of the World Trade buildings had been hit by an airplane, I envisioned a small airplane hitting the building, and a few people tragically losing their lives, and went on about the business at hand. We got to the boat dock and left the boat to be serviced, and went to have breakfast at a local resturant, on the way there my friend told me she heard on the radio in the office that another plane had hit the second building, still nothing registered in my mind other than how bad it was for a few people, and then I thought that it could just be rumor and not to be too concerned. Nothing hit me until we were in the resturant, and the whole place was tuned into what was going on, on the TV. There before our disbelieving eyes was the whole unbelievable thing unfolding before our eyes. Some one said something about going to war, and my only thought was "good" that is what the country needs to give a boost to the economy. Then I came out of my self induced coma, and realized that I have two of my children in the military, this put my emotions on high, and just talking about my kids started me to cry, it amazed me that even thinking that my girls may be somewhere fighting and have their lives in danger, just scared me to death. Somewhere in the comotion and confussion, one of my other daughters called me on my cell phone, and asked if anyone was with her mom, of course I wasn't, so she got into her car and went to be with my wife until I got home. When that happened it was hard to not cry even looking at each other and think of our girls being in harm's way. We made it through the night leaning on each other alot. It helped some to be able to talk to each of the girls, and make sure that they were safe for the time being. Neither of them knew for sure what role they would play in the unfolding events, but would let us know when they found out anything. The next day, we knew much more, the daughter in the Air Force would be deployed in the very near future, so with her being in Idaho with just herself and her son, we would have to drive there and pick up the grandson, and bring him to Indiana until this thing was resolved one way or the other. The other daughter in the Navy was in a secure place and would not have to go into harm's way, so we were releaved about that. 9/12 we left for Idaho, and hadf custody of our grandson by 9/16, and on the way back to Indiana. That daughter was deployed to Qatar, on the Persian Gulf, in early October, and then the real worries began. Even though she was about 900 miles away from the fighting, we still worried for her safety, from terrorists, since that whole part of the world seems to be primarilly terrorists, we thought our worry was justified. She finally came back to the states in Janurary 2002, and came to collect her son in Feburary, since that was as soon as she could get leave to make that long of a trip, and they have been safely in Idaho since.
Our lives have not changed much since the events of 9/11, except for making sure we let all of our family know how much they are loved and needed, and not limit it to just our imediate family. We have always been family oriented, but now we need to bring the whole family in closer, and be more closely in contact with them, for God forbid that if something like this would ever happen again, and someone in our family be involved in it, they would know how much they are loved. I grieve for the victims in the towers that were hung-up in the everyday grind, and had forgotten how important the family ties should be. It makes me sad to think of those that were trapped in that situation, true things happen in our lives that make some bad situations, but I always heard to "never go to sleep mad" and "don't be afraid to be the one to say you are sorry."
Hopefully this remembering process will make us all a little stronger, and a lot more wary of the evil in this world, it all seems to be getting more and more out of hand, it seems to be time to clean house, and root out the evil that lurks in the dark corners, if it is known that certain people are terrorists, eliminate the problem by what ever means neccesary, before it comes to another thousand innocent people being senselessly being killed.
Our famly tries to go on as before, and we are doing good, we live as we did before 9/11 as much as possible anyway. We have hopes for the future, hope for going back to work, hope for more healthy grand children, hope for a bright future for the next generations to come, hope for the rest of the world to combat and beat the evil that is there, hope that our leaders can keep us all safe, by seeing the peaceful way to resolve their problems. And above all else GOD BLESS AMERICA!!