nmah3877.xml

nmah3877.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was at home sick. My boyfriend called from his car to tell me he heard on the radio that the World Trade Center had been hit by an airplane. He urged me out of bed and to turn on the news. I let him go and went into the living room. I turned on CNN and was horrified to watch a second plane hit the second tower. I sat on the couch in front of the television all day. I watched the towers fall. I cried. I don't think I moved from the couch all day long. I called my college roommate Carly who worked for Piper Jaffray at the Sears Tower in Chicago. She answered her cell phone to tell me she'd fled after the first plane and went to the train station. She was on her way home to the suburbs of Chicago. Her mother picked her up from the station and she told me they cried together. I felt some relief in that. I think I finally fell asleep in front of the tv. I checked in to work to see what was happening. They told everyone on the trading floor to go home after the second plane hit. The voicemail told us to come in the next day. To be there for our customers in NY. I went in the next day expecting the worst. Everyone was somber. Most people knew someone - be it clients, friends or family that were missing. We kept waiting for people to be brought out. It was horrible. We waited for word of when the market would open again. we started at the TV's. No one really had any idea. It was a horrible day.

My friends and I did our best to keep on living. We didn't want to be afraid. We wanted things back to "normal." We wanted to smile. We wanted to laugh and enjoy. We decided to go to NYC. Spend some money and visit Ground Zero. We went the first week of October. We saw a Broadway show and did some shopping. We walked past the NYSE. We went past the soldiers with guns. It was surreal. we saw that last piece of the WTC... we cried. We hugged. But made a resolve to keep going on with life. I took a photo of a sign that said "I love NY more than ever." It's on my desk at work. We stopped at a fire station. One of the people with us had her 5th grade class make cards. We gave them to the firemen - prayed at their memorial - they lost an astounding 13 men. Cried with them and told them how glad we were that they were there. After that life moved on. I got engaged. Work moved on. We never forget. I've hung a permanent flag in my apartment window. I have an "I love (heart) NY" sticker on my car. I think about those I love a little more and I pray every day. I didn't do that before. People are more important. Time with family is great - I try to get out more and visit with friends. I try to do more for people I love to make sure they know how I feel. I am NOT afraid. I think everyone knows something horrible could and probably will happen again - It's inevitable. I don't worry about it though. It's a waste of time. I want people to know how much I love them. Whether I am taken away, they are taken away, or we all remain. I don't want anything left untouched. I still cry at footage, but know in my heart we will overcome. We will win. We have and will stick together no matter what. I am proud to be an American. I wish for tolerance. I wish for peace... and I hope every day that those who remain here know we all love and think about them.

The coming together. The heroism. The horrifying events should never be forgotten, but we need to remember that we went on together - never forgetting, but moving on none the less. We also need to remember how hard the police and firemen work. What they do for us. How they risk their lives for us and don't ask anything in return. How EMTs are there every day working to help people. Remember the lives lost and the families left here. Remember the Red Cross and all the restaurants and stores that helped people after the attacks. Remember the true patriotism - not the flag-waving - but the TRUE Patriotism of Americans. That all races and creeds came together to overcome tragedy. That's a miracle.

Yes! I hang one in the front window of my apartment. I have one on my car. My feelings have strengthened. I think about freedom and am proud to display this everlasting symbol of hope.