Where were you when you heard/saw the news? What were you doing? What did you do? Did you sit there in shock, thinking it was a nightmare? Turn the T.V./Radio off and back on again, hoping the scenes and sounds would be different? How has it affected you since then? What are you doing diffenently today because of it?
I was expecting my first child (wow, five years have flown by!). I had an ultrasound that day and I was preparing to leave for the appointment. I didn't have the T.V. or radio on, it would have been a distraction (and I have a hard time getting places on time as it is!). My husband called from work, telling me to turn the T.V. on. He told me what had happened before I even got to the living room. I didn't believe him. As I stood there watching the horror, they showed the second plane hitting the Tower. I started crying. I turned the T.V. off, and then back on. I changed the channels. It was still the same story. I got in the car, and it was on the radio. At the doctor's office, their T.V. had the news rolling. Everyone was talking about it. It seemed to take the joy out of my excitement in having a baby girl.
Now? I get the jitters if I hear a low-flying plane (we used to live close to a Naval base with many low-flying planes, oh my!). I wonder when the next attack might be. If I see a suspicious looking person... I think, could it, will it happen again? Even Saturday night, I saw a man standing in a dark corner talking on a cell phone in a foreign language. As we approached him (he was close to where our car was parked outside a restaurant) he stepped further into the shadows and seemed to lower his voice. I thought, "what if he is a part of Al Quaeda and is making plans for another attack?"
No, I don't jump at every sound. I don't live in a bomb shelter. I am not worried and fearful. I trust in God. But I do think about it....
I also give higher respect to our protectors, the police and firefighters. I salute them. I salute our troops, here on homeland and accross the seas. Any one of them can be in harm's way at any moment of the day/night.
How about you?
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Comments: 10
Since 9/11, although I say I will fly again, etc., I have yet to board a plane. There is still a paranoia there that it may happen again. I, too, must commend the men and women who, despite the tragedy and chaos, kept a cool head and brought what order that could be salvaged into that ordeal. I pray no one has to experience anything that horrific again.
Oh yeah... I told the boyfriend while he was in the shower and he didn't belive me either. Then I told him about the second one... I don't think he really believed me until he was out of the shower and able to see the TV for himself. I probably would have felt the same if someone had told me.
It was a horrible day, and the weeks that followed were just as awful. We watched as the FF's, Police and search dogs tried desperately to find survivors. To find bodies so families could have closure.
Watched one Firefighter funeral after another, we collected money for the families, held candle light vigils.
Now we prat, for those lost, for the survivors, for the families.
For those fighting terrorism, for our friends sons and daughters that are in Iraq.
We have a memorial in our front yard, for those 343 Brothers we lost that day. Our flag flys at half staff today, for those who gave all, and for the 3 servicemen from our state who were lost in the last 2 weeks. The rest of the year she flys proudly each and everyday!
I called my sister who lives in New Jersey, I woke her up with the words "America is under attack".
My heart broke that day at the thought that I was bringing my baby into such a cruel world and I cried. I cried for all those who lost there loved ones. I cried because this is not the world I want my children to grow up in.
Please don't forget the innocent people who lost their lives afterwards and are still loosing their lives today.