My family, with the exception of my husband who stayed behind in North Alabama to finish a job, had just moved to South Alabama on October 31. I had just come home from getting my children off to elementary school September 11, 2001 when I received a phone call from my friend and neighbor to “turn on the television!” “What channel?” I asked her. “ANY!” I was certain that I was dreaming at first and then all I could do was stare in probably the worst fear I have ever known. The first thing that I thought about was that we lived one mile from a rather large airport and that my children were in school one mile further from that. Then I needed my husband. I wanted to know that he was aware and ok. He was 6 hours away and I just needed to hear his voice. I got angry at the media because they just kept showing and showing the crashes of the planes over and over. It was horrifying and I could not imagine what the people at the crash sights were undergoing. It was confusing, emotional and my heart was racing a mile a minute.

I have lived in many towns over the years and seen people do really strange and questionable things, but none as questionable and strange as this. I was raised in a home where people all over this world bleed the same color as I bleed, that I am no better or worse than they are, that we are all created equally and that when we all look up, we all see the same moon and sun and stars. I was so proud to see so many people step up to the plate and help all the families of the injured, dead or missing. Not to mention how everyone all over for one minute was experiencing the same emotions because we are all alike when our hearts beat. I love my country. My family comes from many places. New York, Hungary, France, Canada and Europe. I pray everyday that “we” the people of this nation will not forget where we came from. Remember always how united we were during all the chaos and confusion. How we stood side by side regardless of all that worrysome bs we tend to let get in our way unless we “need”. We Americans, we make one hell of a team. I hope and pray for the best. I also hope that my fear does not smell.