story4907.xml

story4907.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was preparing to leave for work. As usual, I had the news on to check the traffic report and weather. It was interrupted for the breaking story of a plane that flew into one of the Twin Towers in New York City. I remember feeling shocked and wondering how such an accident could have possibly happened. I am a native New Yorker at heart, born and raised there. New York City was my playground when I was in my teens and twenties. I loved it there and the essence of it remains with me always. So, I was very disturbed by the image I saw on the t.v. of a plane hitting the building. I called my husband to tell him, because I was in disbelief that it had happened and wondered if he had heard about it. I then called my father, who now lives in Connecticut, to see if he had heard about it. As I spoke with my father and watched the news on t.v., we watched togther (over the phone) as the second plane could be seen coming around and heading into the second tower. We were both silent and then both of us said "Oh, my God. This is no accident". I felt something strange inside of me. It felt as though someone had come into my home with a gun, threatening my family and opening fire. It was a feeling of dread and my father felt it, too. I will never forget that morning for as long as I live. The images of those planes flying into those buildings will always be in my memory. My father and I hung up, because we were speechless and had nothing to say to each other. I went to work, but my job entailed contacting clients in the New York area and no calls could get through. I was sent home that day and every day after that, for the next week. New York City and the surrounding areas had been shut down. This vibrant, wonderful, amazing city had been sent into shock and the rest of the country along with it. Slowly, we all recover as best as we can. My prayers have been with all of the lost souls and their families. I know we must all be more careful and not take what we have in this country for granted. We must not allow jealous, angry zealots to ruin what so many have built and fought for over the years. This is not a "Holy War", because no war is holy. This is all about hate, power and control. It is a shame there are so many small men, with small minds, who somehow manage to gain control of uneducated, miserable human beings and turn them into killing machines. When will it ever end?

Will I ever forget September 11, 2001?
Will you?