story9814.xml

story9814.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-09-11

Oh no...Tuesday morning. I hate Tuesdays...always have. I've always made light of it, but the nervous knot in my stomach that day was certainly anything but Happy Tuesday.

I woke up and got myself off to work as if it were any other day...and wasn't it? I couldn't tell, I had a strange feeling of nostalgia take me over. Nothing serious, but nervous knots all the same. I was listening to the radio as I always do to try to forget about the traffic. A local rock station here in New England. Then it comes time for the news.

A plane crashed into the World Trade Center? How did that happen??? It's a clear day, and besides, how does a pilot miss something as large as the World Trade Center?! In the middle of the news broadcast..."This JUST in - ANOTHER plane hit the OTHER tower.
...this is no accident.

At this point of the morning, everyone was still unsure of what had just taken place. Though still, I was overwhelmed with saddness, panic, and confusion.

Working with young children, it was hard for me top dwell on what had taken place, yet I still couldn't get the thoughts out of my head. All I wanted to do was watch the news (I never want to watch the news) but used what I thought was better judgement, and thought it inappropriate for a child's eyes. All I had was an old radio full of static.

After putting the children down for their afternoon nap, I just cried, and mourned for all of these unknown people, for this country I belong to. I never understood the meaning of unity until that day 2 years ago.

I left work and listened to talk radio the entire way home, which is something I had never done before. I'm a music, buff, what do I want to hear people talk for, right?? But, this was different. I could do nothing else but listen. I think my car drove itself home that day, because I was not paying attention to the world around me, how could I?

My sisters and I went to a restuarant bar that night. We wanted to watch the news, but we just didn't want to watch it in privacy. There were many like us there...wanting to be alone - in company. It was totally amazing and mind boggling how people came together.

I was born and raised an American citizen, and I was always proud...but it's always been something I took for granted. I am young, just 20 years old at the time...I never realized how good I had it. I never felt as much love for my country as I did that day, and all the days following.

Those men, TERRORists...they tried to break us. They tried to ruin us. In my eyes, they only made us stronger. Unfortunately, it was at the expense of 1200 innocent people. Men, women, children, RESCUERS. I feel saddness for them all and their familes every day of my life. If there was an possible way for myself to do anything to fix it, I would. I know that is not possible though.

I hope the terrorists realized how hugely they failed when trying to ruin us, us AMERICANS. I know I am 1000+ times more patriotic now, 1000+ times more proud than ever to be an American...and I know I am not alone there. To them, I'd just like to be one who says "America Stands UNITED."
"ONE nation, under GOD."

My heart goes out to all the families and friends who lost someone that day. I truly hope they all rest and peace.

Thanks for reading my story if you have.
God bless America.