nmah4789.xml

nmah4789.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I was housesitting for my former supervisor, Doug, and his wife, Val. I was asleep when I heard the phone ringing. Val's sister was calling to tell them NOT to get on the plane. I explained that they had stayed at a hotel near the airport to catch their flight to France that morning. She was emphatic, "If you hear from them, tell them they are NOT to get on that plane!" Bewildered, I asked why; I thought she had a premonition or something. She paused and with a air of disbelief, she told me we were being attacked, that a plane was flown into the World Trade Center. Thats when I turned on the TV and saw the first tower burning. As I watched the reporter cover the story, with the tower in the background, I noticed a plane flying low in the background. I was just thinking that it seemed odd to be so low, when it slammed into the second tower. The reporter whipped around, commenting on what he saw. It was unreal and shocking. Never have I actually seen something like that in real time.

Yes, my life has changed but not in a manner that's dramatic. I don't have friends in NY, don't know anyone personally who has died, and have never been to NY. But I'm more thoughtful and reflective. I try to work less and live more. I work at being a better person in the time that I have.

While I think we should remember those who died, I also think we need to seriously think about those who are living. This event didn't happen out of a vaccum. We should remember that we all contribute to what happens in the world, no matter how small or how far away. Our government is involved with matters in other countries that we don't know about. Some of us could care less. But, we are one in a global village. And we need to be actively aware of our role in that village by being aware of what goes on internationally. We should also remember that what makes this country great is the freedom we have. But with that freedom comes great responsibiity, toward self and others, in the USA and outside of it. That is what I believe we live and die for.

I have a flag on my car but it came with the car when I bought it. I've never been a big proponent of flag-waving. It is a symbol of many things to many people but I choose not to invest too much into it. My sense of patriotism comes from how I conduct myself, what I do and say to show my love for this country. I don't like hype and I don't feel that waving a flag is all that patriotic in and of itself. A person can wave lots of flags but if they don't conduct themselves in a manner of respect for others and self, it is meaningless to me. My sense of patriotism comes from trying to live a life of tolerance and inclusion. And sometimes that means tolerating things I don't necessarily agree with. But this country was founded on the belief that we all deserve life, liberty, and happiness.