nmah117.xml

nmah117.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-06

Getting up the morning of September 11, was just like any other morning. We have a simple routine to get kids up, dressed, fed, and out the door by 8am. Disney is always on the TV, with little notice from anyone. For some reason, I decided to switch the channel to MSNBC, right before heading out the door. At first glance, I thought I was watching a replay of a movie being made, seeing a plane head into this building with a firefighter looking on. As I started to realize what was going on, I just stood there, stumped, confused," What is going on?" I just kept saying over and over. I called to my husband to come see, just to validate that this was not a movie but something so horrible and so real, and so unbelieveable. Then the second plane hit, right as we are watching the scene unfold. I just had to sit down, my mind was not handeling what my eyes were seeing. I felt sick, and overwhelmed. What is going to happen?, I thought. I looked at my kids, as they were also watching, and decided to continue with our routine as best as I could. The rest of the day was spent watching all the coverage, praying, and thinking about my family.

Yes it has. I hold my family as the most valuable asset I have in my life. I will never forget how I felt, playing the scenes over and over in my head. I won't travel by air, and may not again.

Everything! The people that lost their lives, the coming together as a nation, that feeling of being one. This country can overcome!

Yes, and my flag still waves today. And yes, I feel like I know what it really means to be an American.