story5358.xml

story5358.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was just starting my work day at Kroger Food & Drug. The small TV monitor near the store's bank was tuned to CNN. At 8:46 eastern time, the horrifying news came that a jet had crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. It became very quiet in the store as fellow associates and customers listened to the terrible news. As I heard that the jet had slammed into the building, I thought that it had been an accident. But when the second plane had crashed into the south tower, I knew that both had been due to acts of terrorism. All I could remember is feeling a sense of shock and anger that something like this could happen in my country. Outcrys of anger, grief, and disbelief were heard throughout the store; people exclaiming that they could not believe what they were hearing, that it was not possible for such a thing to be happening on American soil. As the days passed, my shock faded, but my grief for the rescue workers, the victims, and their families remained as well as prayers for all concerned. I tried to do my part to help by donating money to the rescue effort. I wanted to donate blood, but I could not get an appointment; the wait was over two weeks long. I believe in reincarnation, so the terrorists who are responsible for this cowardly act have much to atone for. They will have to go through many lifetimes to make up for the incredible amount of negative karma that they have built up for themselves. We must never forget what happened on this day one year ago. Be certain, I will never forget.