story6814.xml

story6814.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I remember...

We were getting our kitchen remodeled and I was on the computer checking mail. I was instant messaging my neighbor Lisa. We were chatting and she wrote..."Are you watching the Trade Center?" The first thing I thought was...in my mind...the stock exchanges. I was thinking what world country are we NOT trading with now?

Immediately the telephone rang.... it was my son Jason, the one who is in the military. He said to me in such a nervous voice, "MOM...MOM! Are you watching the TV; can you see any smoke?"

I was so shocked and confused by what he was saying to me, in that tone of voice. I typed a few words to Lisa to say goodbye and ran to the living room.

I saw it!!!

I saw the building burning. I immediately thought of my boss Beryl, and my other boss Sharon who I worked for in Princeton. Both worked in New York. They worked in Manhattan. I wasn't sure what was happening there?

I started to cry. I stepped outside to see planes and helicopters flying overhead.

I thought...Why God...why now.... why this? But I knew in my heart God makes no mistakes. It was his will for this to happen. The last time I felt this horror and fear is when my son called me to tell me he was shipping out to Saudi Arabia to try and quell Saddam.

I couldn't understand why to take these lives in New York in this building. Not knowing all the details, I thought it was a plane crash, that the pilot had a heart attack or something went wrong with the plane. I was not prepared to understand this was a proposed act to crash this plane into one of our buildings in New York.

I remember seeing and hearing the sirens, whistles, car alarms going off in the distance as I watched all this unfolding in front of me on my TV. I was so concerned for Beryl and Sharon who were there...in Manhattan!

The tears flowed again as my neighbors and I chatted on the phone about what was happening.

Then it happened again and my heart sank. This was NO accident. That plane was purposely aimed for the second tower.

My God...these were The World Trade Centers.... the beautiful buildings we would see in the distance here from New Jersey. When it was a clear day they would sparkle in the sunshine.

Then the buildings fell within minutes of each other with mysterious gray clouds of smoke and debris covering over anyone or anything in its path.

I never knew how to really react to all that was happening. It seems as if the world has stopped. I really thought next we all were going to be the victims of a nuclear bomb.

I said some prayers and just thought of how those people...those people in the buildings, could never get out alive. I asked God to give them strength.

I thought of the people on the airplane. They were innocently traveling from one destination to another, that's all. I continued to ask why???

After hearing of the Pentagon I shuddered once again.

When I found out about Flight 11, Todd Beamer, and the countless others who gave their lives as heroes (that no one can ever follow with such distinction); I was stricken with relentless joy. We were taken down for minutes but our American heroes hung right in there without any reservations or fear from anyone!

Now it is one year later and many questions have been answered about many things that terrible day in September.

I still think of how those people who were proud to be a part of the World Trade Center in New York, proud to be Americans participating in the growth of our economy. Those who were proud to be fireman, policeman, doctor, nurse and EMT, and just people on the street who were helping each other despite the challenge to their professions and humanity on this dark day. They were proud to be there just to help. They were absolutely powerless to control this burning building, but they put their lives on the line as only these souls can do. These people were just regular every day guys and gals just living, working, saving lives, just for the sake of survival.

Then I think of that word "survival."

For those who did survive.... it is truly a blessing and it may serve as some direction for them to go on ahead in this life. I hope those who are able to go on can do so with out feeling as if life may deal them these kinds of cards again.

I know many tears will flow into the sea of love for those lost on this day.

I, for one, will contribute.

They will always remain a part of the United States and will be a part of our American history forever.