September 11, 2001.
John commuted to work in Atlanta, GA. I was at home in Dunwoody preparing for the day. The phone rang … it was John calling. Thought his call to be unusually early since he typically didn’t call until after the store opened at 10 AM. Upon answering he franticly blurted out; “turn on the television”. I asked; why? His responded; just turn it on! … I’m on my home. Atlanta is closing down to which I responded; what? Again he insisted, “turn on the television”, I’m leaving work now and hung up. From downtown to where we lived it typically took about an 1/2 hour, but that day it took him two hours to get home.
Once I turned on the television I thought I was watching a dooms day movie. Two passenger planes literally slammed into the Twin Towers causing dark devilish smoke to billow out of the upper portion of the Towers. Then another passenger plane slammed into the Pentagon causing extensive damage and immediate loss of lives. Meanwhile, air traffic control searched for a missing passenger plane. All air travel was grounded in order to find this missing plane. Finally word came that it had crashed in Pennsylvania.
The scenes from ground zero were horrific. Souls were jumping to their death. People were hanging from windows pleading for rescue. Suddenly each tower gave way and crumbled to earth taking with them anyone who remained inside. On the ground people watched in horror. Panic was everywhere as those watching tried to escape the fallout. At the Pentagon people were rescuing co-workers. Medical personnel were scrambling to tend to the injured. In New York and Washington, DC all hell had broken out. In Shanksville, Pennsylvania the stench of death burned on in an open field. That day, some 3000 souls lost their lives.
To this day the images of 9-11 still linger in my mind. The evil I witnessed, the hatred I felt, to this day I still see and feel. I was taught to forgive and love my enemy, but to what degree is forgiveness enough and to what degree is love given. To this day I have not forgiven those who sought to destroy us nor am I able to find love for those who are set on bending us to our knees. God forgive me, but I harbor a heartfelt hatred to all who orchestrated this horrible act of murder and destruction which I will carry to my grave. After all, they attacked me, my brother's and sister's, my country and our way of life.
September 11, 2001 changed our way of life, as well as our world. I will never forget. And I hope that generations to come will always remember that on this day, September 11, 2001, the angels cried.
Until Tomorrow ...
Updated 09/12/09
John commuted to work in Atlanta, GA. I was at home in Dunwoody preparing for the day. The phone rang … it was John calling. Thought his call to be unusually early since he typically didn’t call until after the store opened at 10 AM. Upon answering he franticly blurted out; “turn on the television”. I asked; why? His responded; just turn it on! … I’m on my home. Atlanta is closing down to which I responded; what? Again he insisted, “turn on the television”, I’m leaving work now and hung up. From downtown to where we lived it typically took about an 1/2 hour, but that day it took him two hours to get home.
Once I turned on the television I thought I was watching a dooms day movie. Two passenger planes literally slammed into the Twin Towers causing dark devilish smoke to billow out of the upper portion of the Towers. Then another passenger plane slammed into the Pentagon causing extensive damage and immediate loss of lives. Meanwhile, air traffic control searched for a missing passenger plane. All air travel was grounded in order to find this missing plane. Finally word came that it had crashed in Pennsylvania.
The scenes from ground zero were horrific. Souls were jumping to their death. People were hanging from windows pleading for rescue. Suddenly each tower gave way and crumbled to earth taking with them anyone who remained inside. On the ground people watched in horror. Panic was everywhere as those watching tried to escape the fallout. At the Pentagon people were rescuing co-workers. Medical personnel were scrambling to tend to the injured. In New York and Washington, DC all hell had broken out. In Shanksville, Pennsylvania the stench of death burned on in an open field. That day, some 3000 souls lost their lives.
To this day the images of 9-11 still linger in my mind. The evil I witnessed, the hatred I felt, to this day I still see and feel. I was taught to forgive and love my enemy, but to what degree is forgiveness enough and to what degree is love given. To this day I have not forgiven those who sought to destroy us nor am I able to find love for those who are set on bending us to our knees. God forgive me, but I harbor a heartfelt hatred to all who orchestrated this horrible act of murder and destruction which I will carry to my grave. After all, they attacked me, my brother's and sister's, my country and our way of life.
September 11, 2001 changed our way of life, as well as our world. I will never forget. And I hope that generations to come will always remember that on this day, September 11, 2001, the angels cried.
Until Tomorrow ...
Updated 09/12/09
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