nmah544.xml

nmah544.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-29

I work in midtwon Manhattan. It was typical morning at the office. When I got to my desk, someone mentioned that a plane crashed into the World Trade building. We were shocked but since that was all we knew, we turned on our radios to hear the news.

I dedided to go down to our trading floor because they have televisions there. When I got there, I saw the flames and smoke from the tower that got hit. Moments late, we saw the other plane hit the other tower...my heart started to pound very quickly and the hairs on my body just stood right up. I could not believe was I was seeing, live, on tv.

I ran back to my desk and called a friend who worked in one of the towers and I called a few more friends that worked across the street and blocks from WTC.

We waited for more details and watched everything on the tv. The Pentagon and the falling of the towers. I didn't know how to feel...I just couldn't believe this was happening...how could this be for real, I kept thinking to myself.

I called my family and told them that I would be leaving soon. I was concerned over a co-worker who was 7 1/2 months pregnant and I wanted to make sure someone was with her when we left the office. We waited a while and left at around 1pm.

I walked uptown with the thousands of people evacuating the city. I prayed the whole time, especially walking over the 59th Street Bridge into Queens. Looking across, downtown, the towers were gone. You could only see smoke. Our lives and city has changed forever.

I heard back from my friends later that evening. Everyone made it home okay but were still very shaken up.

I remember not sleeping that night, scared that something else will happen. I slept with the television on a week. I didn't want to miss anything.

Then, two weeks later, it hit me. I was overwhelmed and started to cry on day. I couldn't control myself...I hadn't cried once since Sept. 11. I needed that release. I felt so many different emotions. Reality finally hit me.

It has changed due to Sept. 11th. It made me look at life differently and become more appreciative of the people in my life as well as the life I live. I try not to take things for granted.

It was the day that changed NY and the country forever. The day should be a day of remembrance. It should be a day filled with events honoring the heros, alive and deceased, and praying for all those who survived, died and for their families.

I have a small flag at home still hanging and I did light a candle for those who were killed. My feelings about the American flag have changed in that it made me a stronger believer in what it represents. We are a strong country and our freedom came at a big price. We will continue to defend it.