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Karla Dorman, The StormSpinner, click here
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Let me tell you a story of something that happened when I was a little girl, about your age.
Things weren't always this peaceful when I was growing up. There were wars and rumors of wars, everybody hated each other, and were fighting all of the time.
One event of historical proportions was the beginning...of why we enjoy peace today.
I was 10 years old, living in Manhattan, which is a part of New York City. It was 2001. September 11. That was almost eighty years ago! My word, that's a long time...
I had awakened early, because I had to go to school. These days, you learn everything on the computer. You do everything on the computer...learn, go shopping, have medical check-ups...you see, they didn't do things like that when I was little. Now, mind you, Paulie, they had computers, even before Gramma was born, but you didn't do everything on them like now. Don't even have to leave your house...
When I was a little girl, we still went to a school building, or to a store, or to a doctor's office or hospital when we were really sick.
We learned things out of books. You remember Gramma's old books, don't you?
Where was I? Gramma is getting so forgetful these days...thank you, Paulie.
September 11, 2001. Manhattan didn't look the same the way it does now. There were was a building that had been built before Gramma was born; it were called the World Trade Center. Actually, it was two buildings...twins...in fact, they were called the Twins, the Twin Towers.
They were big buildings. Big, tall, huge...massive...if you stood up against them, they seemed to scrape the clouds. They were not as tall as some of the buildings you see standing today, but to a little girl, they could have been the tallest buildings in the world! They were one hundred and ten stories high. Both of them stood that tall.
My mommy and my daddy, who you don't remember, had to get ready to go to work. They got ready, and took me to school. My school was just a couple of blocks away from the World Trade Center. That's where they both worked...I kissed my parents goodbye, and went inside, and went to my teacher's room.
I never saw them again. They died that day...
Yes, Paulie, I'm all right. I just miss them...
Anyway, I was inside my classroom, playing with a couple of my friends, and we heard this terrible roaring sound, and then there was this...explosion. It shook the ground...I almost fell down...my best friend, Kirsten, steadied me...I didn't know what had happened. Maybe a bus crashed right outside our school!
Our teacher, Mrs. Dorman, told us to stay in our seats, and she went to look out the window.
She came back, and she...had...tears on her face. She said that something had crashed into the World Trade Centers, and one of the Towers was on fire. She turned on the t.v. that was in the room...
And we saw an airplane run into the second building. That must have been what happened...there was another explosion...black smoke and fire...burst forth...we were all crying and asking her what was going on. She said that we were under attack...
I had never been so scared in my life as I was at that moment.
Mrs. Dorman said that we should leave...she quickly gathered all of us children together, and we left...walking.
Walking...to I don't know where. I asked Mrs. Dorman if we should stay at the school in case our parents were looking for us. She said that with the Towers on fire, there was a possibility they could fall over, and she wanted to get as far away from them as possible.
That meant we'd have to walk for miles and miles! I didn't want to walk miles and miles. I wanted to find mommy and daddy!
Mrs. Dorman held one of my hands, and Kirsten held the other one. She had all the other children hold hands as we marched in a line away from the burning buildings. We saw many police cars and firetrucks and ambulances racing toward the Towers. Screaming sirens split the air...I thought I would go deaf from the loud wailing noise they made. It never stopped. Unending...
We'd walked for what seemed hours. I was so thirsty...I begged Mrs. Dorman for a drink. A man overheard us all crying, and he went inside his store and came out with a whole bunch of bottled water. Even though I would have rather had a Coke, I was thankful for something. He gave us all a couple of bottles each. We thanked him and took a drink, but Mrs. Dorman wouldn't let us drink too much, we might have to save some, and then we started walking some more.
A loud rumbling noise...a heavy vibration...made me turn around. What I saw...ohhhhh...
One of the Towers...disappeared...in a cloud of dust...it had fallen...my parents...were inside...they...died...when the Tower fell...a little while later...the second one...also fell...
Oh, honey...Gramma's sorry...she's just...sad...wait a minute...
Okay...I think I'm okay now...
Many people worked inside those Towers. Almost 50,000...but only a little less than 3,000 died when they were attacked and fell.
Thanks to the heroic efforts of firemen and policemen, many of those inside were able to escape. Unfortunately, not my parents...
Who attacked the World Trade Center, you ask? Some evil men who hated the United States, her way of freedom...they not only attacked us, they terrorized the world, and the world got sick and tired of it.
We engaged in a long, long battle with them, a war that saw many people die, but eventually, we were able to stop all of those that wanted to terrorize America, and the world, and this is why we know peace to this day.
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Reader Reviews for
"Gramma Remembers 9/11/01"
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| Reviewed by Debbie Bailey |
6/18/2008 |
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This was such a great story because of the way you told it, through the eyes of a grandmother remembering such a tragic day.
I've been away from AuthorsDen for a very long time but I'm glad to be back. This story brings back a lot of memories of that day. I'll never forget what happened. It's just so poignant the way you tell it. I can picture Grandma telling her grandson this story, it just seems so real. Very beautiful, touching piece, Karla. God bless you. |
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| Reviewed by Myles Saulibio |
7/18/2007 |
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Karla---
Fantastic and thought provoking. You are in my winner's circle.
BTW, I was over on Ellis Island doing a vulnerability assessment shortly afterwards and someone had imprinted the twin towers on a window pane as if to remind onlookers where they used to be. It left an impression on me. Fast forward a few years and I am in Afghanistan. Pay back time.
Aloha,
Myles |
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| Reviewed by MaryGrace Patterson |
4/13/2007 |
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| A heartfelt story which touches one to the very core of their being... Wow, a very powerful write!....M |
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| Reviewed by Karen Palumbo |
3/21/2007 |
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Karla, you leave me speechless and in tears. Though I have 101 6 hour tapes of September 11, 2001 I still am not able to watch them. My home was destroyed, friends damaged for life, one family member dead,
Michael Lynch Ladder 4 died that day. He was found six months later. I for one will never forget!!! I ussed to take the train when I could to watch the towers being built. It was a big deal than. Now, I have seen them fall.
I will never forget,
Karen |
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| Reviewed by Sherri Smith |
6/27/2006 |
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Amen Karla, may we never forget and never quit fighting terrorists.
Sherri |
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| Reviewed by Hasan Abood |
7/12/2005 |
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| Hey Karla, this piece is amazing. It touched my heart. I don't think anyone is going to forget the events that happened on 9/11. I know, I won't forget. |
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| Reviewed by Rebecca Burns |
12/15/2004 |
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| Wow, what a take on 9/11. Very powerful. |
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| Reviewed by Lillian Larry |
8/11/2004 |
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This story is amazing, that day will live in my heart forever, but I always know that no matter what, God saw, and he is not pleased. The bible teaches that vengeance is of the Lord, he will repay! You are a wonderful writer. Keep up the good work. You are truly blessed!
Love Lillian. |
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| Reviewed by Rebekah Rosie Lang |
9/28/2003 |
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| GREAT STORY Karla! I liked the 80 yr flash back idea! Ingenious! Excellent write! |
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| Reviewed by C.S. Snow (Reader) |
9/22/2003 |
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Excellent! My heart grieved for gramma, and her parents.
Again, wish I could see this issue in the black and white presented in the latter half of this story. But, I can't help but, in my mind, see the grey areas.
I wish I could see America as the freedom fighters we so want to be. Heck, I was born and raised here! It tears at my heart to see America warts and all like I do.
I really enjoyed this peek into the future, and I hope for our sake it's true. |
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| Reviewed by Ed Matlack |
9/21/2003 |
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| This story I could not finish, it hurt so much, but I found it so well written and done so in a manner that many wouldnt have thought to do it in...wonderful write, ED |
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| Reviewed by Daniel Leong (Reader) |
7/1/2003 |
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Hehheh...perfection -does- lie in simplicity :) A really moving piece, and the emotional significance of the attacks are so clearly portrayed by this frank story. I do hope that it would turn out like your story, that the world would finally be at peace after so much suffering...
Thanx for yr note,
Dan
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| Reviewed by s hammonds |
6/9/2003 |
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| great story enjoyed your work |
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| Reviewed by Cathy Montgomery (Reader) |
5/30/2003 |
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| Creatively told, great story--very touching one, Karla... |
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| Reviewed by Tom Hyland |
5/24/2003 |
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Karla - Top Drawer! The "flashback" from 80 years is truly inventive.
I was driving to work that infamous morning and heard it on the radio - they say that truth is stranger than fiction - 9-1-1 was definitely scarier than Orson Welles' broadcast of "War of The Worlds."
P.S. thanks for your kind comments - Tom. |
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| Reviewed by Elaine Warely |
5/17/2003 |
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| very inventive and touching! It helps to put it in historical perspective, much the way the survivors of passengers on the Lusitania must have done. We all need a catharsis in the wake of 9/11 |
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| Reviewed by B Thomas Daniels |
3/14/2003 |
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This is a wonderfuly told story Karla,
I will never forget the day the towers fell and maybe one day ill be telling a simular story to my grandchildren. I love how you put it 80 years into the future just great. |
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| Reviewed by Nickolaus Pacione |
3/10/2003 |
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| You got a strong one here. It has a chilling reminder of what we saw within the stygian skies. |
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| Reviewed by Sean Kidwell (Reader) |
2/22/2003 |
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| This is a very sad. Every time I think of the mean man killing all of them incent bystanders it makes me sad and mad. Thinking about it. |
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| Reviewed by Kay P Devenish |
1/12/2003 |
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| This made me cry...good work. |
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| Reviewed by Thomas |
12/1/2002 |
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good job karla! keep up the good writing!
made me cry. i saw it too. |
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| Reviewed by VaShon Brown |
11/25/2002 |
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| This was a wonderful story!!! |
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| Reviewed by leon |
11/22/2002 |
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| My grandson was in Law School at Seton Hall on that day. The students were in the Library. They heard the noise, look out the window which faced the bay, and they all saw the second plane hit the other building. He told us it was such a grewsome experience, that he still sees it in his sleep and dreams. |
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| Reviewed by K. Raposo |
11/20/2002 |
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Gret story.... i love it!! lol It's really nice how you made a trafic event into a great story. I'm glad there are people in this world like you!!!! Luv Ur Friend~
~*k.Bliss~ PS~ Im a twin 2!! r u guys identical?? |
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| Reviewed by Cami Rose |
11/15/2002 |
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| You are so creative!! Wonderful job. Well done, Karla. Please keep writing, your talent is awesome! |
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| Reviewed by Michelle Kidwell Power In The Pen |
11/11/2002 |
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Powerful story, very well written!
Your Friend
Michelle |
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| Reviewed by Cles Wilson |
10/29/2002 |
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| Excellent writing. You have such talent. I enjoyed this. Very vivid. |
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| Reviewed by Afrika Abney |
10/13/2002 |
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I loved this piece and would like to include it in my Voices of Tomorrow:911 Collection. As for the other poems that you allowed me to use may you please send them via email to me. Thanks and great piece. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story with us.
Afrika M.A.Abney |
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| Reviewed by Peter Adotey Addo |
9/24/2002 |
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| A good job...thanks |
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| Reviewed by Faye Enno (Reader) |
9/18/2002 |
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| I love this! :) (((( Hugs )))) |
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| Reviewed by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado |
9/14/2002 |
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| good imagery throughout this! powerful story, karla!! great job!! love, your twink, karen lynn. (((HUGS))) "NEVER FORGET" |
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