I woke up this morning hoping it was all a bad dream, but knowing deep down it wasn't.  I keep remembering a trip I took to New York in 1985 with my school's ITS/Drama Club. The last day, we were given a choice of visiting Wall Street or the World Trade Center.  I chose WTC.  I can still see the view looking out the window and down to the street from the top floor and the hundreds of people we had to run past when we realized we had 5 minutes to get back to the street and to our bus before it was time to leave.  I had hoped to one day take my children to Manhatten to see the things I got to see back then.  Now that building is gone and so are thousands of people.  And I'm scared to let my children leave my site.  I'm at a loss for a way to explain this to them - I don't understand it myself.



My brother called me last night and told me to go outside and look at the sky.  It was full  of stars - more than we've ever

seen.  My mother says that Heaven was full was full last night.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you who are safe and all of those who have lost loved ones.  



Yes, its new day and we will get through this slowly, but surely.  I'm proud to meet each of you.



Michelle Maitland - McKenney, VA