----- Original Message ----- From: Jean To: Jean Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 10:54 AM Subject: Story of 911
I was living in Alexandria, Virginia at that time, and working out of my home. For some reason I woke up real early that morning, and turned on the tv to watch the news, which I never do. But although I did this, I had the volume low, and went up to the loft to get on the computer. Around 8:55 a.m., I walked over to the top of the stairs and looked down at the tv. What I saw didn't make sense to me because it was showing smoke and flame from the World Trade Center, and I could read the word -- Live. I kept thinking that doesn't make sense -- why are they showing file footage from 1993, and saying it's Live? I then went downstairs and turned the volume up and watched, finaly realizing this was indeed -- Live. A few minutes later I saw the second plane hit. I was totally shocked, and couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. I kept watching, and so heard about the plane hitting the Pentagon. I started calling close friends to find out if they'd heard, and/or if they were okay. One friend asked me to pick him up cause they'd been let go from the FDIC, and the metro was shut down. I left my house and got caught up in a horrific traffic jam -- the likes of which I hope I never get caught in again. Everybody was leaving DC, and instead of taking only about 36 minutes or so to pick up my friend, it took me over two hours. When I finally got back home I spent most of the rest of the day watching tv, and crying. On September 13th, 2001 I had a moment of despair, shattered as I was by the events of 9/11 I was overcome with emotion. It was at that moment I realized that, in a way, I was letting the terrorists beat me. I was letting them win. I turned this into motivation and set out into our nations heartland to help those troubled by this tragedy put it behind them. With a box full of "WE LOVE NY" T-shirts and a heart of conviction I was off into the sunrise. Traveling by day and camping by night, I met hundreds of people from all walks of life. I was taken by how easy it was to strike conversation and bond with complete strangers. It was an unprecedented time in our country. People wore their hearts on their sleeves, cried openly without embarrassment, and we were unified in a way that I just couldnít have imagined. It was a dream that has come and gone but Iíll never forget that feeling. Today I know that many are still suffering and the pain may even be deeper for some. So on this the 5th year of remembrance, my hope is that we all make an effort to unite in the same way again behind those that are still feeling beaten or left alone by the tragedy. If we let this continue, weíd loosing the most important battle of all in the war right here at home. After all, what kind of soldier would leave the wounded behind in without a fight? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.12/997 - Release Date: 9/9/2007 10:17 AM --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
