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September 11th was my 36th BirthdaySep 13 '01 (Updated Nov 02 '01) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line There are several web sites that make helping the victims of this tragedy very easy. Any help at all is good help.
September 11th, 2001 was the day of my 36th birthday. This was a birthday that I did not want to come. As I get older and the years seem to go by quickly I find myself wishing that there was some way to get the years back or to become younger. So when my husband got up for work that morning and kissed me goodbye and bid me a Happy Birthday I told him not to remind me. I got up shortly after my husband left and logged on to the computer, pretty much the same as I do every day. Shortly after that my kids got, up they are 4 and 5 years old. I noticed an email greeting card in my email box from my Sister In Law and opened it. Again I really did not want to be reminded that it was my birthday but my Sister In Law and I have been exchanging funny email greeting cards on each others birthdays pretty much since they first became available, so I figured at very least it would give me laugh. Of course it did, and it made my children laugh, and they asked me to play it over and over again, each time they squealed with delight. Somewhere between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM I got a phone call from my husband. He asked me if I had seen the news. I said, “no”. He told me to turn on the television and that he had to go. Before I could say a word he said, “I love you” and he hung up the phone. A few minutes later I went downstairs and turned on the television. What I saw was completely shocking. I remember just standing there with my mouth wide opened staring at the television. The magnitude of what had happened had not really hit me yet it had appeared that an airplane crashed into the world trade center. This was horrible, to say the least. There had been an attack on the second tower as well, and the pentagon had also been attacked. Suddenly I realized that this was a lot more than a simple plane accident or one plane hi-jacking. Then there was fear and panic, and then there was even more panic as I realized that my husband works in Chicago in very close proximity to the Sears Tower. If these terrorist were aiming at large targets where a lot of American citizens would be the Sears Tower could have possibly been one of them. I ran to the phone and tried to reach my husband, I could not, all the circuits in the area were busy and there was no way to get through. My heart was pounding in my chest all I knew is that I wanted him out of that area, out of Chicago completely. I was ready to pack up the kids and drive there myself and get him, but I had no idea where he was or how to reach him. He called a half hour later to tell me that he was fine and that he was trying to get out of the city. It took him several hours for him to get home. Of course I thank God there were no attacks in Chicago that day, at least none that I am aware of and my fears were put to rest. Many other thousands of Americans fears were not, and for most at this point their fears have become a very harsh reality. One that I can only imagine. What Can We Do To Help What can we do to help? Pray, certainly pray. At the very least we can pray. Pray that they will find more survivors. Pray for the families of those who have died. Pray for the soul’s of those who have died. Pray for our country. Pray that more lives will not be lost in relation to this horrible tragedy, Pray that we will not have to live in fear. Pray that those who did this are brought to justice, and Pray for hatred to end. We can also donate blood. You do not have to live close to the victims to donate blood, most area hospitals are accepting donations that will be sent to the victims. I heard one man on the news last night say that some of the hospitals were no longer accepting it though. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to find out if blood is still needed and where you can go to donate. Do not call the Red Cross their lines are over whelmed as it is right now. If you live in New York or Washington DC you can find out about donation locations by clicking on the link for Helping.Org located on Epinions home page. If you go to Helping.Org you will also find information on how to donate to The American Red Cross, The National Organization for Victim Assistance, and Catholic Charities USA. Also available on the Epinions web site are three links where you can click to donate money on line. You can go to Amazon.com and donate, if you already have an account there you can just type in your email address and password and they will just ask you which of your registered credit cards you would like to donate from and for how much. It is very simple I just donated some money and it took me less than 1 minute. You can also donate through Pay Pal and this only takes a moment as well. So if you have a couple of bucks sitting in your Pay Pal account that you didn’t really know what to do with why not send the money to the Red Cross Relief fund. It will only take you a moment. You can also donate through Yahoo Pay Direct. As I said before links to all three of these sites are provided by Epinions on the home page located inside the red box. The links will take you directly to the donation areas of the sites so you do not have to search around the sites to find the donation areas. Donations made on these web sites are tax deductible although I am certain that, that is the least of our concerns at this point. Other web sites that are providing information are: http://www.fema.gov http://www.care.org http://www.christianity.com/salvationarmyusa http://www.worldrelief.org http://www.gospelcom.net/ia http://www.christianrelief.org/ I am sure that there are many more sites out there that provide ways of donating, and other ways to help, as well as up to date information, and places where you can express sympathy and pray with other computer users. The above sights are just some of the ones that I came across while searching for ways to help this morning. There have also been three member categories relating to this tragedy that you may find helpful advice from other Epinions members by reading. Or you can express your feelings by writing in these categories and provide any useful information you may have. These categories are: Online Information Resources, How to Help Locally, and Helping Children Understand. These categories can also be easily found inside the red box on the Epinions home page. If you are a my points member you can also donate points to help out. Even if you can only afford a few dollars, or can only offer moral support please try and take the opportunity to help in some way. Our show of support for one another is what makes us and will continue to make us strong as a nation. I have just opened an email from a newsletter that I have subscribed to and in that email there was a lot of information that may be helpfull, this information comes by the way of phone numbers. I am taking the information directly from the news letter sent by caroline@carolinescoupons.com. I am sure that these numbers are available in other places on the web but I appreciate the fact the Caroline took the time to find and post these numbers Airlines: Friends and family who wish to check on passengers and flights may call: American Airlines, 1-800-245-0999 United Airlines, 1-800-932-8555 Victim Information: Red Cross WTC Victim Information: 212-604-7285 WTC AON Employees: 203-863-6380 WTC Morgan Stanley Employees: 888-883-4391 Pentagon Employees: 1-877-663-6772 Fire Department Employees: 718-999-2541 Police Department Employees: 718-677-8238 NEW YORK CITY HOSPITALS: St. Vincent's Hospital: 212-604-7285 Bellevue Hospital Center: 212-562-4141 Coler Memorial Hospital: 212-848-6300 Goldwater Memorial Hospital: 212-318-8000 Gouverneur Hospital D&TC: 212-238-7000 Also, The Justice Department's Office of Victims of Crime has set up a phone line to provide information to families about victims and about services for survivors and their rights: 1-800-331-0075 In Conclusion September 11th, 2001 was my 36th birthday. A birthday I did not appreciate nor want even before the tragedy. Later that day I stood in my bathroom in complete privacy out of the view of my children and I cried. I cried because I felt horribly guilty for having been born on such a horrible day, I cried because I felt guilty that I was having another birthday and that so many others would not. I cried for the victims, their families and for the future of our country and our world. I cried because these attacks could have very well reached the Chicago area, and I wondered why we were so lucky as to not be hit, why were our lives spared over those who were not? I cried because drastic measures will have to be taken and possibly more blood will be shed. Every year on my birthday (if I am indeed blessed to have further birthdays) I will remember the horrible day that I turned 36 and I will remember those who have died that day. I do not know what will happen in the near future or how much all of our lives will change, I only know that turning 36 suddenly doesn’t seem like such really bad thing any more. To anyone who has been personally affected by this tragedy I want to tell you that my heart goes out to you and my prayers and hopes are with you. To every one else I hope that you will at least go to one of the above on line sites to see if there is any way that you can help. Let us remain a strong nation by lending our hearts and minds to our fellow citizens. I also would like to thank any Epinions members who are from other countries who have shown support as well. I don't normally bring religion or faith into my reviews but just this once I will say, God bless you all.  |
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