Cameras trained in on the WTC. Live feeds to NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN began. As we listened to Peter Jennings, the camera was live on the WTC as it burned on the top of both towers. While he was talking, we watched in disbelief as the tower on the left crumbled unbelievably to the ground, quaking ontop of and crushing would-be rescuers.

Shaun and I stayed up until 2:45am, when it was clear that the coverage would not end, and there would be no immediate end to this tragedy. We needed rest. Have we really had rest since that moment? It has not been a good rest. When I awoke at 6 am, the devastation and global reaction was overwhelming. I was hoping that it was all a horrible nightmare. I tried to shake myself free of what I had seen on live tv and I just couldn't. The tears started once again and did not stop for days.

Almost immediately, stocks plummeted worldwide. Airline companies announced major layoffs. 20,000 people each company. United, AMerican and Boeing were hobbled by the disaster. Continental, which was already in trouble, announced it was near bankruptcy. Here, in AUstralia, Ansett Airlines was spun off of Air New Zealand and left for dead. The travel industry announced instantly that it would be hurt. Every aspect of every piece of our life was now impacted by the New War.

Leslie Anne was devastated when I told her the news and she saw for herself that the attack was on every single television station here in Australia. I was crying and was probably not very supportive of her. We hugged and sobbed. When I told Ricky, he was defiantly positive that all would be ok. "We'll get them. They'll be sorry" was and is his mentality.

Over the next several days, poignant tributes to the USA and to those lives lost began popping up all over the world. I did not believe Cassie when she told me they had played the Star Spangled Banner at the changing of the guard. But...they most certainly had. I saw it on the news here as well. The world was united in their disgust and loathing for this act of aggression on innocent men and women. And the world was united in fear.

As days droned on, the day would begin by seeing the war progress on CNN and Australian TV. Waking each morning was particularly unpleasant. Not knowing what the news would bring was (is) unnerving.

Fortunately, the world seemed to be uniting with the United States. And bipartisanship in the US and in AUstralia both were at least for the moment blurred for the sake of Freedom and justice. Tony Blair, PM of England, was particularly at the forefront, leading Europe in a united front along side the United States, demanding an end to terrorism.

I felt the need to have our pictures taken, on September 17th, 2001, Australia's Day of Mourning for the attack. I wanted a record of this day, for our Grandchildren should there ever be any. We hung our US flag proudly on the porch and Leslie Anne decked out in her USA shirt and bandana. (USA flag clothing was ridiculously in fashion before the attacks.)

I was not surprised when the tide turned. Even before the first attack on Afghanistan on October 7th, 2001, anti-American sentiment was growing. Pakistan civilians were rioting in the streets. Citizens of Sydney, Australia were demonstrating with anti-viet nam 1970's rhetoric, marching down the street and in front of the US company NIKE retail store.

OCTOBER 7, 2001
The states were celebrating the long Columbus Day weekend. Mayor Guiliani of New York City was part of the patriotic parade trying to restore normalcy to the critically wounded city. This in spite of the fact that he had lost dozens of close personal friends in the attack on the world trade center. While the US tried to enjoy their long weekend, casting a weary eye on the sky, and staying closer to home, the United States launched their attack on Afghanistan. Many of us were saddened by this turn of events. This action assured we would be in a long war which, for the first time in my lifetime, meant that the war would be on our soil as well as throughout Asia and the Middle East.

People in the states are scared to do a lot they did before. That doesn't mean we aren't scared here as well. The fear is probably global. There are people in Afghanistan who were arrested for preaching Christianity. They could face execution. Now we have attacked the country that holds them captive. We hold our breath for their safety. I am fearful that ignorant children may say or do the wrong thing by way of our children. Already someone asked Leslie Anne, on the day of the attack on NYC, "are all your rellies dead?" Also, one of her teachers marked her lower than perhaps she should have been because her oral report given on the day of the attack was not as good as it could have been, had she not been so upset. However, a couple girls who were 3 days late with their reports were not marked down at all. One can't help but fear that LA was a victim both of ignorance, insensitivity and anti-American sentiment.

This war we have been dragged into has heightened intolerance world wide. David Letterman, who was clearly visably shaken by the attack on NYC (boy I wish I had that tape), said (paraphrasing cuz I can't find it on the web anymore), "This is supposed to be a *HOLY WAR*. A HOLY WAR*. As long as I live I will NEVER understand how you can have a holy war." Well, as long as I live, I will never forget how my life and the life of my children changed so horribly on September 11, 2001 and it may get worse before it gets better. Hopefully, we will have the presence of mind to feed and nourish the civilians of this war and give the Afghans back their country so all the refugees in Pakistan and even Australia can go home to their country.