nmah5616.xml

nmah5616.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-08-29

Sept. 11th, 2001 I was 8 months pregnant. My 4 year old slept in that day, and I was thankful I had a chance to also. Around 8:45 am my husband called, waking me up. He kept repeating..'You need to turn on the T.V..Any Station..Just find the news'. It didn't make sense..but I did. As I sat in my living room watching images of two planes crash into buildings, I simply didn't get it. I said to my husband, 'I can sort of see one airplane having an accident like that..but two? That doesn't make sense!' My husbands voice got kind of wierd in a quiet way as he replied,'Honey..it's a terrorist attack. Terrorist hijacked the planes and crashed them.' I can't explain the shock. The shock I know everyone felt that day. In an instant that statement disoriented me. Terrorists? In America? My America? This just doesn't happen here!!!! I have never felt so alone as I sat so many states away and watched the different news reports. Flipping aimlessly through channels. My husband called nearly every 20 minutes for more information. I had family, also unable to leave work, calling to hear what was happening until radios could be brought in their work. I remember sitting there and watching the first tower falling. I just sat in total numbness and disbelief as I told my husband,'It disappered. I don't know what happen..but It looked like an explosion of glitter and now it's gone.'. I felt so helpless and confused and scared. I was hurting for people I'd never met and never seen. I was crying for children I would never know and wives who I'd never lay eyes on. Simply because we were all Americans, and the tragedy touched us all. The next 24-48 hours I lived on the news stations. Peter Jennings became my source of comfort and sort of an old friend. I prayed, I cried, I asked why, and I was mad. I have never been so angry..at no one and at everyone. Why us? Why so many innocent lives? 15 Days after Sept. 11th occured I gave birth to a wonderful baby girl. We named her Mckenzie Liberty. The Liberty was in honor of Sept. 11th and our belief that America will always be free, and no one, not even terrorists, will destroy our Great Nation. And we wanted her to always remember that America is Free and what happened the day someone tried to hurt our liberty.

The way September 11th changed my life was mostly my attitude. It gave me a renewed sense of pride in our country and it's people. I still can't see a picture of the towers without tearing up. And I still feel a sense of anguish for those I now have lost loved ones. As it did not affect my life in a physical way, it has had a huge effect on me emotionally.

I think the most important thing that happened on Sept. 11th and after was our Pulling together as Americans. The pride we had for our nation and each other. I find it sad that two years later we have all returned to our own busy lives and not caring for one another. Strangers no longer look at each other with smiles of compassion, courage, and silent boosts of strength for one another. I believe we all need to remember that feeling of becoming one nation and helping each other and pulling together for a greater good. People stood for hours in line to donate blood, volunteers brought food and supplies to exhausted workers and those affected by the tragedy. Caring, Compassion, and honor are the things that should be remembered.

We did fly one after..but we had been flying one before. My husband is ex-navy. Pride in his country and in his flag were a way of life for us before the tragedy.I think my feelings did change in a way. I felt more pride. Pride in the flag, my country, and the people of my country.