story1577.xml

story1577.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-30

I HAD JUST TAKEN MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, AND I WAS HAVING A CUP OF COFFEE. I WAS WATCHING A VIDEO, AND RELAXING WHEN THE PHONE RANG. IT WAS MY SISTER, CHARLETTE CALLING TO TELL ME TO PUT ON THE NEWS. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THE FIRST TRADE CENTER HAD BEEN HIT. MY SISTER HAD BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS FIRST THING THAT MORNING, AND CALLED ME IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS BROADCAST. I WAS WORRIED THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN IN PHILADELPHIA ONCE THEY BEGAN TALKING ABOUT TERRORISTS. THE LIBERTY BELL, AND INDEPENDENCE HALL I THOUGHT WOULD BECOME TARGETS FOR THESE CRAZY TERRORISTS. I ASKED MY SISTER IF SHE THOUGHT I SHOULD PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL, AND NEITHER ONE OF US WERE SURE IF I SHOULD, OR IF I SHOULD WAIT FOR THE SCHOOL TO CALL ME. JUST AFTER THAT WE BOTH SAW THE SECOND PLANE HIT THE SECOND TOWER, AND WE BOTH SCREAMED SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE PHONE. I FELT MY FEAR INCREASE FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK, IT APPEARED AS IF THEY WERE IN A WAR ZONE. WE BOTH CRIED FOR THE LOSS OF ALL OF THOSE BRAVE SOULS. SOON AFTER MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL CALLED FOR ME TO PICK HER UP. WHEN I GOT THERE I EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED THE BEST I COULD TO A 7 YEAR OLD, BUT I BEGAN TO CRY WHEN I THOUGHT OF ALL THOSE CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS WEREN'T COMING HOME TONITE. I TOLD HER THAT GOD HAD CALLED THEM TO BECOME ANGELS WITH HIM IN HEAVEN, AND THAT SOMEDAY SOON THEY WOULD JOIN JESUS ON WHITE HORSES DESCENDING FROM HEAVEN TO DEFEAT SATAN AND HIS EVIL FOLLOWERS. WE HAD A QUIET DAY TOGETHER AND WE PRAYED THAT THE LOVED ONES LEFT BEHIND OF THESE VICTIMS WOULD BE GIVEN PLENTY OF SYMPATHY, ASSISTANCE AND LOVE FROM ALL THOSE NEAR THEM. I AM CRYING NOW AS I WRITE THIS, AND SO I CLOSE FOR NOW WITH GOD'S GREAT LOVE AND BLESSINGS FOR THOSE OVERCOMING TRAGEDY.