Being born a native New Yorker has always given me a sense of pride and happiness. I never would have left New York City if it had not been for getting married. I lived there for 27 years and have family and friends there.

I had just came home from being in New York City - The Bronx for 4 months with my grandmother gravely ill and she had a stroke in July. It has been really hard dealing with it and seeing her changed from vibrant to paralyzed.

While she was receiving physical therapy there was nothing for me to do so my resolve was to just go down on the weekends to see her.

To my dismay I came back home and not even a week and a half later I am watching tv and saw in horror a news flash and the sight of a plane crashing into the first building of the World Trade Center.

I couldn't believe my eyes, no I said this is not happening! There are friends in those buildings the plane just crashed into. Oh My God, help them dear Lord to to get out safely. Rush of all kinds of emotions filled me and I watched as another plane hit the second building. I was literally sick and in shock!!!

How could this happen on US soil? Was there a warning? Who could be so heartless and disregard human life like this. I cried so much my eyes were puffy and all I could do is watch and wonder what is going to happen to those in the top floors.

Panic, fear, disbelief, shock and praying out loud just hit me all at once. What about my friends? What are the two Cities going to do? So many questions and little time to absorb anything when the first building fell to the ground.

I screamed out loud it upset my cat! Please no don't let the people be buried under the rubble. They never had a chance the ones on the upper floors. I can't believe that terrorists attacked the Pentagon too. Then I heard of the pilots and passengers on the planes and it was just too much to take all at once.

I left the room and went to pray and was clutching my chest for dear life. My heart was beating so fast I thought I was having a heart attack. I asked God to help the people buried, the ones injured, the rescue teams, the firefighters and all who were in the second building. For there not to be so many lives lost and to bring the ones who planned this to justice. I prayed for the families of the victims and those who were eyewitnesses of on the streets and to help them heal from this tragedy.

My phone was tied up with calls to find out if my friends and family members were okay. Two friends ended up missing for a day and it had my nerves rattled and going haywire. They turned out fine but my heart was broken and my spirit was solemn over everyone else who didn't make it.

This is the land of the free and a great melting pot is in New York City. People of all ages and walks of life were in those two buildings how could things ever be the same. If they wanted to strike the heart and soul of America they surely did. Washington, D.C. and New York City are the core of the United States. From the U.N. building to the Capitol Building and White House. They struck our HOME!

I have prayed, cried and gone to church twice and still it is like something from the news about overseas and the wars and terrorists acts going on there. I am totally complacent at times and my whole body feels like it has been through the mill. Emotionally this tragedy has affected me to the point I have trouble sleeping now.

I keep seeing the plane crashing into the buildings and the fire trucks buried under the rubble. I try to work and do things to keep busy and have done all I could to help those who greatly need everyone's help right now.

Giving food and support information out is wonderful but it is like this is so huge a devastation you still feel it is not enough you could do. All I know is my heart and soul goes out to those families who are still searching for their loved ones and my prayers will never cease for them.