nmah5569.xml

nmah5569.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-07-11

I remember the morning very clearly. It was a beautiful morning. I remember walking in the parking lot at work, thinking what a beautiful day I wish I was home. A co-worker came down the hall asking if anyone had a radio on, "did we hear a plane crashed into the WTC." We had several TV's at work, they were turned on. My cell phone rang and it was my husband who was working on the Jersey City waterfront, asking "doesn't Colleen work there?" Colleen is my cousin, a mother to two children, a wife, sister, aunt and a friend to everyone. I was in her wedding. She invited me to join her, her husband and kids to DisneyLand. We had a great time. I remember watching the fireworks at Epcot in the rain, her husband and I were like who cares lets go home, we're tired. But we waited to the end, Colleen wanted to see them. My husband called again upset, this time he witnessed the 2nd plane go into the South Tower, he knew instantly what was was happening. I tried to reach her sister and brothers to no avail. Called my mother, brother and sister. Finally mid-afternoon I reached one of her brothers, she called her husband's office around 9am saying she was fine and she was getting in an elevator and the call was cut out. She worked in the 2nd tower, 98th floor. It was the last time we heard from her. That day and the next several weeks were the longest days. Horrible feeling in your stomach that cannot be described. Still have it. Unfortunately, I have two other family members, 3rd cousins, whom I did not know but heard their parents names mentioned on several occassions, also lost that day. They both worked for Cantor Fitzgerald, young men with families.

It has changed my life. I have an emptiness that I never had before. I find the holidays to be depressing. Not a day goes by that I don't think of Colleen. But I realized you cannot take anything for granted and you must live for each moment. We will never know when something like this will happen again.

We have several flags out. Everyone should proudly fly their flags. Especially with our troops still in Iraq! We need to support them and make sure they get home safe