story4425.xml

story4425.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was getting ready for work when the first plane hit. Being a women of a certain age my first thought was that a plane had hit the building trying to land, much as one had hit the Empire State building many years ago. When I got to my job, I watched as the second plane hit. At first I thought it was a repeat of the inital crash. When to my horror, I realized that it was indeed a second plane, I knew that we were under attack. Since I had family living and working close to the area, I was frantically trying to reach them. I finally got through to one of my daughters in New Jersey and she contacted one of my nieces who was acting as central command so to speak, and was told that while the rest of my family was scattered throughout the New York area, all were alive. All I remember feeling, other than extreme anger and emotional pain. was a deep desire to "Go Home". No matter where I might reside at any given time, New York is and will be my home. I flew back as soon as I was able and when I hit the city, felt an almost physical pain. I do know that New Yorkers, indeed, Americans, might sometimes be down, but NEVER, NEVER, will they be out. Friends that were lost, heroes that gave the supreme sacrifice, will be remembered much as those who lost their lives at Pearl Hsrbour will be. I have always had tremendous respect for police & firemen. If nothing else comes of this, perhaps now people will realize the great bravery and care these men show every day.
God Bless America