nmah65.xml

nmah65.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-07-10

My son, who was 16 at the time, woke me up to have me watch the news about the World Trade Center "being on fire". He thought that it had only caught fire, as did I when I first started watching ... until I started hearing what was being speculated on and then the sight of the second plane heading for the next tower drove home that this was not right, it was not a freak accident, and that something else was oh so terribly wrong. My son and I sat there in horror watching the first tower burn as the second plane headed inward toward the second tower and collide with it ... we both turned and looked at each other, simultaneoulsly saying "Oh My God" !!! I couldn't think or react ... it was like I was watching something unreal ... until the first tower started to collapse and then it really hit me, and I mean really hit me !!! All those people !!! Knowing they were there - in the tower still alive, all those people on the planes, my heart and mind were devastated for all of those people right there that very second it happening, knowing the horror that was in store for their families - all these raging emotions and fear for these people in just a matter of seconds. I remember saying to my son "Oh My God Nick, all those people" as the first tower went down, and all he was able to say was "I know Mom".

My life has changed only a small amount, but I believe my 18 year old daughter and 17 year old son's impressions and perspectives of the real world out there have changed drastically. I, being a 43 year old single mom, haven't had the luxury of seeing the world through their eyes in a very, very long time - their views veiled in a certain innocence still. However, that innocence was destroyed by vile creatures that dub themselves 'holy men'. My kids were awakened to the horrible truth that while it is still a beautiful world with more beautiful people in it, there are, and always will be - some dangerously sick, twisted people out there bent on attempting to destroy that which is good and decent. I say attempt, because in this case - they failed miserably in their attempt to undermine and destroy us. It backfired beautifully in such that it served to unify us more, and produce intense feelings of love and allegience for our country that has sadly been missing for far too long a time. My heart is gladdened by the fact though, that during the time my kids were growing up, I tried to instill in them feelings of patriotism and respect for their country and the people that have given their lives and time for this country, but it always seemed that they thought I was just a nutty mom with too old fashioned ideas - but because of the 11th, my kids now have a totally different view on things and their feelings are a little more passionate about this country, and for this country, not quite like Mom's, but they're there. Now it's a little more like they 'feel' this is their country, it's not just a bunch of connected states that you learn about in history.

Everything good and everything bad. We need to remember it all. One does not supercede the other. Both are now an irrevocable interwoven piece of history, and must be remembered in all it's ugliness and beauty, and pay attention to the ugliness and beauty it in turn created in us, if we, and future generations are to truly learn from it ... honor it ... and never to harbor the very type of hatred that created the monsters that did this.

Fly the flag ? Honor the flag ? Absolutely !!! And my daughter had me take her to go get red, white, and blue ribbon so that she could make a bow and streamers to fly from my antennae on the back of my car, and I'm proud to say that those ribbons are STILL flying proudly from the back of my car since that September - we have never once taken them off, not even to wash the car ... and the most unusual thing about it is that they don't look worn and tattered, they still look proud and strong - JUST LIKE THE U.S.A. !!! As for my feelings and my respect for the flag and all that she represents and the people that have given their lives with conviction and pride for her ... all of that which I think, respect, feel, and believe in has only been magnified and renewed with a resolve that no time will ever be able to diminish.