Family connection brings tragedy to area
by Sherri Jones, ne news editor

    I was at work on Sept. 11 when I heard of the two airplanes that crashed into the twin towers in New York.

    My first thought was of my sister, Debi, who lives close to the financial district where this all took place.

    I tried to contact her but could not get through; I kept getting a recording that said, “All circuits are busy; try back.”

    I didn’t want to try back; I wanted to get through right then to see if my sister was okay. I was a basket case the whole day thinking my sister could be dead, and the thought tore me up.

    As the news started showing more and more pictures, and using more descriptive words, I became more and more scared. Also the comments from others did not help the situation. It saddened me that others could not tear themselves away from the television because the photos, the same photos I could not continue to see, intrigued them.

    All day, I could look at a person and know what he was thinking about. An eerie feeling lurked in the hallways, streets and businesses.

    My mother finally got in touch with my sister late Tuesday afternoon, and, thankfully, she was fine, but traumatized by the events that were taking place in front of her very eyes.

    Knowing she was safe calmed my fears somewhat, but I was still terrified. I could not figure out why I was scared now and not when Desert Storm was happening. Then I realized that my anxiety was because this took place on our turf and interrupted our lives.

I am angry at whoever did this. Neither a band-aide nor an apology can repair what has happened.

    Why did this person or persons, while trying to make a point, cut short the lives of many innocent people? And is this person or group of people feeling any remorse whatsoever?

I think people should really think about their actions and the effects on others before they do something. I cannot fathom what the passengers and crews were thinking and going through.

    America and all its people will get through this, but we all have to unite and work together as a team.

    Listening to the radio makes me think that it will be impossible for all of us to get on the same ground.

    People are taking action into their own hands and making things worse. There have been shootings at Muslim schools and churches.

    We mourn the loss of hundreds of lives, yet we are destroying or endangering the lives of others.

    Yes, we are angry, but we need to let the anger out in positive ways such as going for a walk, mowing the yard or talking to others, not pulling out guns.

    I am glad that the news is keeping us up to date on current information, but we need to limit the time we are giving to the coverage.

    As Connie, my pharmacology of addiction teacher, said, “The last thing we take in before we go to sleep will be the first thing we think of when we wake up.”

    That night I had popped in a “happy” movie to go to sleep with, hoping that that would help. However, I still dreamed of the occurrence although my dream changed the faces, the location and the lives that were destroyed.

    It is scary to realize what one person is capable of doing big and small. I pray that one day we will encounter world peace, but I cannot get my hopes up because I know a lot of changes must be made before peace will occur.

    However, I must remember that as one, we can make a difference.

    Please keep those people and their family members that have been destroyed in your thoughts.

    And daily, if not several times a day, tell your loved ones that you love them.