story4821.xml

story4821.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I'll never forget the sound of the phone ringing and my friends voice imploring to me "wake up and turn on the TV". To my horror I awakened to see one of the Towers on fire. Then the other tower was hit and the first one went down. I watched TV all day, I could not tear myself away in hopes that they would find victims alive. I will never forget the image of innocent people (it still bring tears to my eyes) jumping out of windows, knowing they were jumping to their deaths. It will haunt me to my death that these people had to choose between jumping or being burned to death. I have mourned our losses for the last year and I am still in mourning for what we lost. I don't know if I will ever recover from this.

I will also never forget the spirit of the American people and how resillent we are. During the last year I have seen more love and caring than I can remember in years. Strangers that are actually willing to help each other. I find it difficult to express my joy over this (am I supposed to feel joy?). I am sad that it took a catastrophy for the American public to love each other and care for one another.

I do have friends and family in other countries and it warms my heart and sole to know that the world is behind us and mourns with us. I read many tributes from people all over the world. Thank you for caring.

I pray that something like this never happens again and that Americans will continue to care about one another.