story2046.xml

story2046.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-10

Home on my off day, tuned in to tv to catch the last 15 min of the am news...some advertisement I see of a movie. A plane crashes into the WTC goes the story...but wait it is REAL! An accident I think. Then the announcers say it is the pentagon (get yer facts straight I think) I am getting very confused and scared coz it IS REAL. I called my dh and am screaming...by the time he gets in the TV room ANOTHER plane crashes into WTC and I KNOW it is no accident. My mind races to a friend who is in danger. I tore out the door in my PJs to the neighbor's house, her grandson is the friend I mentioned. Banging and bashing her door I have tears pouring down my face, then and now as I write. She made it to the door and I jab on the TV. She gets the idea quickly by then 4 planes crashed and we wonder how many more. We aren't that far from the Houston Ship Channel and the danger of that exploding is terrifying. Friends & loved ones work there. My skin is crawling just thinking about it. We managed to hear from the NYC friend, he had stayed home from work sick God is so good. We prayed but didnt know how to pray just God take care of everyone, strengthen our President and our nation. We were glued to the TV......more horrified of the collapse of WTC, seeing the ppl jumping out the windows, knowing all the ppl in the fires in all 4 crashes burned to death. I felt sick inside, like my life had been sucked out. For the first time in my entire 42 years of living I felt afraid, not safe anymore and completely shaken to the core. We ventured out as a group of neighborhood ladies 4 of us to Wal-Mart for supplies, we didn't know what to expect. Bought up water, batteries, shotgun & pistol shells, bleach, gasoline, food, just like we would have for a flood or other disaster. All the shoppers were in a daze, cashiers were weeping, ppl weeping and praying in the store. I wanted to scream and run I was wound up so tight. Phone lines were jammed. All we could do was stay home and watch. The roads were eerily quiet. School let out ASAP. Our work had grief counselours but nothing could console us like prayer. All thru the work day in the days following ppl just stopped and prayed spontaneously for solace. Anger, frustration, grief, disbelief, fear, panic were stirring inside me like in a blender. It has been a year but I feel like it was yesterday. I never want to forget this horrid act because so many died, so many more were impacted in the shockwave afterwards. I commend our President in his handling of the matter. He let his human side show in addition to his presidential side. Seeing his tears made me feel I wasn't alone so much. Never forget the martyrs of Washington, Pennsylvania and WTC. God Bless our Nation.