nmah725.xml

nmah725.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-02

I was administering the ISTEP (Indiana high school graduation exam) at the high school where I teach. I went to our principal's office to get extra pencils, when I saw his television on and views of the first plane in the World Trade Center. At that time, no one could tell me exactly what was happening. Most believed it was an accident. If only that had been true. At lunch, my husband, an EMT, took time out of his day to visit with our 13 month old daughter. It was then, that I truly learned the impact of this unbelievably evil act. I felt completely off balance. As a wife of someone in emegency services, my heart ached for the families of the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and paramedics that were missing and presumed dead. I felt as though the ground had been ripped from below me. Were any of us safe? Why? Why? Why? The people affected had just gone about their daily business. Most were hard working individuals, just trying to make a living to support themselves or their families. The other questions ringing in my mind were what kind of world did I bring my daughter in to? What kind of life is she going to have? Will she ever feel the safety and security that I had grown up feeling? Why? Why? Why?

Not as drastically as I first believed it would. Being in the Midwest has a sense of security. Maybe it's a false sense, I don't know. I've ALWAYS appreciated my family, but this made me appreciate them so much more. I gained even more respect for my husband's job as an EMT and I am not as naive in assuming he will always come home from at the end of his shift. I appreciate each sunrise, each breath. I cherish the time with my loved ones, particularly my husband and daughter (now two). God has blessed me in so many ways. I thank Him everyday! I pray that families in the U.S. never have to experience such horrible, meaningless loss again.

The feeling that we are untouchable. We are actually very vunerable.

We may not see our families at the end of the day so make the time you have with them count.

Yes. At home and in my classroom. I have much more pride and appreciation for our flag and freedoms than I did before September 11th.