story4685.xml

story4685.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

It was early. I was half-awake/half-asleep in bed (we're 2 hours behind NewYork time). My husband was already up and downstairs watching the stock channel - his morning ritual. All of a sudden I heard pounding on the stairs as all 240 pounds of him ran up the stairs to gasp out what had happened and turn the TV on. I couldn't believe my eyes. It felt as if I was still asleep, dreaming...like watching an Orson Wells movie of the end of the world. I watched the first plane hit the tower(replay) several times before I really understood it was real...and as awful as it was I still didn't fully comprehend how bad or real until I saw "live" the 2nd plane hit the tower....AND even then I realized it was bad, I knew many people would die but as the towers were still standing I also felt that only those where the plane hit would perish...I was so wrong. When those towers went down, my heart sank. And even though I am safe and sound in Boise, Idaho and to my knowledge know noone personally who was killed, I feel as If I do. I felt then and feel now a deep sense of sorrow and a firm resolve to do what I can as a citizen and American to support the full eradication of this evil. It won't be easy, kind or even fair, but this is a cancer that needs to be destroyed or cut out for survival. I've been most affected by the sight of the man and women who held hands as they jumped to their death. I've tried to understand how a decision of that magnitude could be made and what it must have been like up there for them to make it...I'll never forget the sight and I will always see those people holding hands. The rest of the morning and throughout the day I was glued to my TV waiting to see what would happen next and wishing I were in NewYork to help, to do anything. I've also been affected by the the phrase "Let's Roll". What a gift of courage and grace was shown on that flight. I've wondered how I would act in the same circumstance. Would I be brave as they were? Would I think of others before myself as they did? Would I behave with grace and dignity as they did? I believe it's not over yet...we have to stay strong, firm in our efforts and resolve. 5-10 years from now, I wonder where we'll be, what we'll know, what we'll have experienced.

Terri Jensen