nmah3043.xml

nmah3043.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was born on September 11th, 1954 in America. I was lucky to be born in America. On the morning of 9/11/2001 my 17 year old daughter ran into my bedroom urging me to "wake up Mom.!!" (Living in America), a single parent, working Mom, the ONLY thing that could mean, (living in America), was that a birthday surprise was awaiting me downstairs in the kitchen. (Living in America), I excitedly jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs. Suddenly, before my eyes, (living in America) no longer meant total freedom. I scoped the TV as the second plane hit the twin towers. "Living in America" had been stolen. I anguished. There was no longer an America like I had known for 47 years.

My personal and emotional life has not been the same from that moment. Tomorrow is September 11, 2002. I spend tonight emotional and in tears for the lives lost and the America lost. I will never be able to correlate the vision of my lifes beginning and the death that I saw that day. I find myself hating "them" only to realize that the very hatred I feel lowers me to their level. I stumble and then realize the most I can do is ask God for understanding. So far, He has been merciful but unyielding in the fact that I must let go of (living in America.)

(Living in America.)

I put up the picture of the NYFD firemen with the flag (9/11)on our main bulletin board at work.... Since that day no other notice, or picture has been placed there. The pin that holds the picture has never been touched. The picture sadly is showing signs of age. On occasion I will witness a fellow employee standing and staring at it like a national monument. I don't believe this will ever change. All Americans are bonded forever in understanding the loss of "Living in America."