story5425.xml

story5425.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

On September 11th 2001 I was taking my 5 year old daughter to school when I heard on the radio a plane crashed into a building. I had caught the rear end of the report so I didn't realize what was really going on. My thoughts were how tragic that an another airplane had crashed and not realizing that it was not an accident. When I arrived at work that morning, radios and TV's were on full force and I had stop to listen what was going on and I couldn't believe my ears. When reality set in all I could think about is my daughter safe and I was pregnant at the time so my emotions really began to get the best of me. Just as I was about to call my daughters school, they called me first to inform me that the children were safe but they were going to dismiss the children early that day just as a precaution. Just as I was about to walk out the door my daughters' older sister called and said that she would pick her up and bring her home with her. I too work at a school were the phone rang off the hook and parents came to pick up their children early, it was such caos but finally all of my 960 school children went home and still through all that, all I keep thinking was how was my daughter which I called every chance I got. I too as did many other people believed that the terrorists would make there way to Chicago, which is also one of the biggest cities, but again thank God for a second chance at life. I rushed out of work and raced to where my daughter was and I finally reached her and hugged and kissed her as hard as she would let me. As I walked through the door of my daughters' sister apartment I could hear the news over and over again and channel after channel with the tragic news of the terrist attacks and all I could do was cry for those whose lives were lost and thank God that my child was safe. My daughter saw the news and really didn't understand what had happened but she new it was done on purpose. She had nightmares for a long time and everytime she saw a plane she was afraid that it would crash and she ran into the house or where she felt safe.

Through it all I learned to live each day as it comes and look at it as my last so that I don't take my life and loved ones for granted.

Again I am greatful for the safety for my loved ones but in my heart I too will always feel violated and sad for those who were not so fortunate to survive especially for those who lost their loved ones that they will never see again and worse yet never say goodbye. Every day I thank God for another day of life and especially for my two beautiful children as I had a new baby boy after terrible day that will live forever in our hearts and minds.