nmah17.xml

nmah17.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-06-15

I had just woken up when my mother called me to tell me that a plane had struck one of the towers. I quickly ran to the tv to turn it on. I watched in shock, and couldn't believe what I was seeing. I remember crying and hoping that those poor people could get out of there. My husband was getting ready for work, and I told him what was going on. He came to the living room to watch with me, and just as he joined me, the second tower was hit. I was crying and praying for those people in those buildings. My husband stayed home from work that day so we could be together. I remember that my mom and I stayed on the phone together for at least 3-4 hours as we witnessed this horrible act. We talked about our lives, and all the people that we love. We talked about what those people must have been thinking. Were they scared, were they at peace, were they able to talk to their loved ones before they dissappeard forever? I could only think about the people going through this. I put myself in their place, and could only imagine what they must have felt. What the families of the victims must have felt. I could only hope . That's all I could do, was hope and pray. I felt so helpless, so sad. I greived for days. I still do.

My life has changed tremendously. Truely, there is NOT one day that goes by that I don't think of 9-11. The impact of this act has stayed with me as if it were still yesterday that this took place. I am still hoping that one day I will wake up and see that it was all just a horrible dream, and the towers will be there again. The people will be with their loved ones again. I am still a little scared to go to public places with a huge crowd. I am more aware of my surroundings now. I watch. I watch to see if anything is out of place. If someone is someplace they shouldn't be. I don't like to go to the mall anymore. I'm scared that something might happen. I don't go to church anymore. I'm scared to because I attend a large church with attendance of 3000+. I basically stay home. If I do go out somewhere, I get what I need and get home as soon as I can. I'm not walking in complete fear, but some. I have 3 kids. I can't take a chance of being somewhere that will put my innocent childrens' lives at risk. I want to protect them more. I tell them I love them as often as I can. I hold them. I tell them how special they are. My husband and I tell each other EVERY day that we love each other. Although I am afraid to go places, this horrible event has only caused our family to get closer, and appreciate what we have.

ALL the victims. ALL the vitims' families. How a country so diverse in cultures came together as one people. How the country forgot about the little "stupid" things that make us angry. How this travisty taught America how to love again.

Yes, we fly the flag, and proudly! We have yet to take ours down. Before 9-11 I respected the flag, but didn't think much about what it stood for. I never really paid attention to the flag. But since 9-11, I notice the American flag EVERYWHERE I go. Honestly, when I see the flag, and really think about the true meaning behind those colors, behind the stripes, and the stars, I get choked up inside. I am HONORED to fly the flag at my home. I am HONORED to have family in the armed forces. I am HONORED to have family that are firefighters and paramedics. I am HONORED to be an American!