story5208.xml

story5208.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I woke up at 9:45am on September 11, 2001. My asst. manager called me from the Papa Johns I managed. He said, "Our area supervisor called you needs to come in and call him." On my way to work I heard that all major league games were canceling, all schools were dismissed and the Canadian borders were cut off. First, I remembered in 2000, the George Orwell comic I read in high school. I thought it was a joke. But, the joke continued and I began to panic. What is going on? I called my supervisor and the first words out of his mouth were,? are you okay?" I asked what was going on. He said the trade center had been attacked. He told me every one needed to be at the store and prepared for any type of panic situations. I drove home as fast as I could as I listened to my radio. I pulled in the drive and ran in side to turn on the TV what I saw was devastating. I ran threw my house to find my fianc?. He thought I was over reacting or heard some bad information. I insisted that he turn on the TV he did so and sat in front of it for 3 days watching as the fireman attempted to recover bodies from the rubble. All I could do was prey that nothing like this continue and that the worst was over. Those people no warning at all. The things that were flashing through their minds as they fell upon death. I scared the living hell out of me to even imagine what they were feeling or thinking. I felt helpless and no longer in control of my life. However, that day thought me something.
My English teacher thought my carpe deem seize the day. I never understood those words till 911. So I changed my life by cutting my work time and getting less pay. So that I could spend more quality time with my family and cherish the things in this country that other countries do not have. The ability to listen to the radio, to laugh out loud for no apparent reason to give unconditional kisses and hugs to the ones I love and express my opinion every day. To where that flashy color or spend that extra money to make a child smile or to that extra five to the waitress instead of spending it on cigarettes.