story1327.xml

story1327.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-20

I don't really remember the begining of my day on September 11. But for the rest of my life, what followed will be forever embedded in my memory. I had been at work for about thirty minutes when someone came into my office and asked if we heard what had happened to one of the World Trade Center buildings. The first thing that jumped into my head was a bomb. It had happened before, and I figured it had happened again. I quickly went to the CNN internet site. From that moment on I was glued to my computer screen. Nothing else seemed to matter. At first I thought it was an accident. I had never heard of a commerical airliner used as a terrorist weapon. But as I was watching the news unfold, I saw the second tower being hit. Then I knew it was no accident. My heart was beating fast, and I started to shake. This couldn't be happening. Not in the U.S. One of the first things that came into my mind was Pearl Harbor. I had heard older people talk about Pear Harbor, but because it was before my time, my feelings were at a distance. Now I truly new what the nation was feeling, that fateful December morning, because I was feeling it now. My heart ached for all those people who had died, and more who will have to deal with the loss. Although I was lucky enough not to have any family lost, I still grieved as a citizen of the US. It hit so close to home, as if it was someone from my family. In a way it was. Still this day, anytime I read a story or see pictures of that day, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I have tears in my eyes. The emotions are fresh again. I wonder how long it will take to get over it. Then I realize that I never want to get over, not that I could. I realized that this was history in the making, and all of us are front row witnesses. That someday, way in the future, when all of this seems like a Pear Harbor to other generations, I will be able to share my memories, and tell of the countless heroes who lost and gave their lives on September 11, 2002.