nmah93.xml

nmah93.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-07-25

My husband, daughter and I were taking a flight to Disneyworld the morning of September 11th. We passed and viewed the towers around 8:15-8:20 am. My daughter asked me what the World trade Center towers were used for, so the next half hour of our plane ride was a disussion ouf our country, our economy and our American pride for business. as our flight progressed I knew something was wrong, the attendents at one point all gathered into the cockpic for aboue 15 minutes. our flight was accelerated, wemade it to Orlando internationalabout 30 minutes ahead of schedule, which I know from experience something was wrong. Once we landed, our pilot then announced what happened. Anger and total shock overwelmed both myself and my husband. At the same time I thanked God that we were safe. Orlando was in total chaos. We did manage to get a car rental and to our hotel. we were able to regroup catch our selves, Disney open up all of their long distance service free of charge so that we could call family and friends to let them know we were safe. I felt so bad being so far away from home, not knowing what to expect next. Well, we were stranded in DIsney the parks were closed that Tuesday but re=opened the following morning. I don't know if it was a good or bad distraction being there, being in such a happy place with such a heavy heart, my daughter being only 8 could not comprehend the severity of the tragedy that just happened, she was focused on this trip. The people(employees) in Disney were WONDERFUL in every way. When it came time to head back to New York we had to drive because the airports were still closed. What a wonderful journey up the east coast. to see in so many differet states, the support and patriotisim of everyone, and how we pulled together. we saw the remaining smoke rising from the Pentagon, the increased secuity around the Mall in D.. We observed first hand, our country and its people change.

I have become more aware... Especially of people and society as a whole. For the first time in many years I have restored faith in society, our military and our government. Were are the world prototype of democracy, sometimes our freedoms can get too out of hand, we can become too selfish with our freedoms. we need to remember that, use our freedoms in the right way, a proud and ethical way.

Our heros (firemen, police as well as the bravery of the people on all of the flights)how quickly we as a society can unite and stand. Our power as a free society, our bravery as well as our sorrows of that day.

My feelings never changed, it just VERY STRONGLY reminded me of what we tend to take advantage of, how we can easily forget.