story5137.xml
Title
story5137.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-11
911DA Story: Story
I had finished my shower and headed for the den. Passing the television, I grabbed the remote and headed for the kitchen to pour my morning cup of coffee. This ritual had gone on for the last 5 years as I got ready to head to the small business that I had opened. As I sat down with my coffee and morning paper, I turned on the television.
On the screen, the twin towers in lower manhatten. Smoke billowing out of one, and confused commentary by Katie Couric. I grew up out on Long Island, and knew the area well. As I looked at the television screen with confusion, my sister called me from Georgia. She asked if I was watching the news and I said yes. At the same time, we both saw the second plane on the horizon and hit the second tower of the World Trade Center. My sister became hysterical. She was screaming "Oh my God, oh my God!" I was watching but completely calm. Everything on that television screen was in slow motion for me. After about five minutes I told my sister that I had to decide what to do with my day.
Do I go to the store? How absurd! I did not feel that it was neccessary to open a small custom frame shop when so much was going on, and obviously not finished yet. I felt in my stomach that the United States was under attack. I wanted to gather my grown children from thier lives and make sure they were all safe. I called my husband, a postal worker, and he actually thought that I was telling him a joke. I assured him that I was not.
I did go to the store and open, although late. I was stunned when several customers that came in actually got annoyed that I was worried about such things, and not concentrating on thier little needs of getting something framed to make thier house look pretty.
As the economy had already made life at my small business more difficult that year, September 11, 2001, and the days that followed changed the way I have thought since.
I closed my store this year. It seemed so insignificant. I spend time with my grown children every day. I have decided to pursue full time my desire to sell my own work as a local artist.
I have no regrets. I want the souls that were lost at the three locations to know that they did not die in vain. That some of us in this United States took stock of thier lives up to this point and decided that the family and the relationships and love with them was in fact the most important thing on this earth. Not money, not fame, not having the most or the best.
When we are no longer on this earth, no matter how you look at faith, you are no longer on this earth. Make the most of the love you have for your spouse and children while you physically have them. When it is over, it is over.
On the screen, the twin towers in lower manhatten. Smoke billowing out of one, and confused commentary by Katie Couric. I grew up out on Long Island, and knew the area well. As I looked at the television screen with confusion, my sister called me from Georgia. She asked if I was watching the news and I said yes. At the same time, we both saw the second plane on the horizon and hit the second tower of the World Trade Center. My sister became hysterical. She was screaming "Oh my God, oh my God!" I was watching but completely calm. Everything on that television screen was in slow motion for me. After about five minutes I told my sister that I had to decide what to do with my day.
Do I go to the store? How absurd! I did not feel that it was neccessary to open a small custom frame shop when so much was going on, and obviously not finished yet. I felt in my stomach that the United States was under attack. I wanted to gather my grown children from thier lives and make sure they were all safe. I called my husband, a postal worker, and he actually thought that I was telling him a joke. I assured him that I was not.
I did go to the store and open, although late. I was stunned when several customers that came in actually got annoyed that I was worried about such things, and not concentrating on thier little needs of getting something framed to make thier house look pretty.
As the economy had already made life at my small business more difficult that year, September 11, 2001, and the days that followed changed the way I have thought since.
I closed my store this year. It seemed so insignificant. I spend time with my grown children every day. I have decided to pursue full time my desire to sell my own work as a local artist.
I have no regrets. I want the souls that were lost at the three locations to know that they did not die in vain. That some of us in this United States took stock of thier lives up to this point and decided that the family and the relationships and love with them was in fact the most important thing on this earth. Not money, not fame, not having the most or the best.
When we are no longer on this earth, no matter how you look at faith, you are no longer on this earth. Make the most of the love you have for your spouse and children while you physically have them. When it is over, it is over.
Collection
Citation
“story5137.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 16, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/9040.