nmah5655.xml

nmah5655.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-09-07

I was at home with my two children (then ages 1 & 3) and we were watching Barney on PBS. My phone rang and it was my friend Lisa telling me that I needed to turn on the news. I was a little annoyed as I hadn't completely woken up yet and told her I couldn't that the kids were engrossed with Barney but she insisted. Something in her voice told me to do it and to hell with Barney. I turned to NBC just in time to see the replay of the 1st tower being hit. I was completely mortified - it was so surreal. Approximately 3 minutes after I turned on the news, they came on and said that the 2nd tower had been hit. At that point, nobody knew exactly what was going on. I remember listening to the news on the tv in the living room and the bedroom on two different stations and they were saying there were possibly two more airplanes that had been hijacked. I remember calling my husband at work (he works at Love Field in Dallas) and telling him he needed to leave and come home right then. I was concerned with his safety due to his work place. They had closed down the airport but he couldn't leave. I have never been so terrified as I was that day. I didn't want to take my son to preschool. I didn't want my family out of my sight. I remember watching as the towers collapsed and thinking "surely everyone got out" not knowing the magnitude of the situation.

I am much more aware of things I didn't even consider before. I cherish my family and friends more now and I don't take anything for granted.

The way the people of this country came together and rallied for each other. I felt such a caring and togetherness that I hadn't felt before.

Yes - proudly.