story6958.xml

story6958.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-13

I was riding to work with my best friend and the radio was on and the dj kept saying that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. My friend and I thought that it was just a small aircraft, a 2 seater, or something like it. It was not even in our comprehension that it could have been a jet, loaded with so much fuel. When we got to work, the rest of the staff was gathered around the tv watching the horrifying news. It was surreal. When the first tower collapsed, it was like I was seeing things. Then the second one went down. I couldn't see, my tears were blurring my vision. I couldn't talk, the lump in my throat was so huge. Then I found out about what happened at the Pentagon. NOW I panicked, my baby sister is a teacher in the D.C. area, and most of her students have parents who work at the Pentagon. I couldn't reach her. Her school was in lock-down, since the plane that crashed into the Pentagon came from the airport only 20 miles away. It was hell. Next came the news about the plane crash in Western Pennsylvania (I don't know how to spell the name of the town). I kept praying, and asking how much more was coming? How many more innocent lives were going to be lost? How many more families were going to suffer? How were we, as a nation, come through this? As a single individual, how are we going to come through this? How are we going to explain this to our children? Now, one year and one day after the tradegy, I am more aware of what is in our "friendly skies". I try not to take life for granted anymore. I am not so much in a rush to get somewhere that I cut people off on the highway. We as a nation stood tall, brave and UNITED!!! I have to say, I am proud to be an AMERICAN!