September 14, 2006

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

How did the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 affect you?
(Asked the Almaden Branch Library)

“I was in New York on Sept. 11th, about 20 blocks away [from the World Trade Center]. I lived in New York. I lost a lot of people. I knew that life and New York were never going to be the same again. I had a high power job as an art dealer and [the attacks] were kind of a wake-up call for me. I left the big city and came home to my family and friends. It put important things into perspective for me, that life is not about parties and that kind of stuff, but about family. After 9/11 my life [in New York] seemed insignificant. It’s had a big impact on my life and it still haunts me.”

Johanna Hirt, 40
Almaden
Substitute teacher and tutor


“I remember the day pretty well. It didn’t affect me personally, but the kids at school still talk about it. The event was bound to happen. I’m sad it happened, and I hope it can turn into one of those things that won’t happen again. I don’t know what the next step will have to be, but we have to continue to take steps [to stop the terrorists].”

Kelly Smith, 13
Almaden
Eighth grader at Castillero


“I think I’ve become more political since 9/11. In part that has to do with George W. Bush doing such a horrible job. It was horrible that day when we didn’t know if there would be more attacks. I’ve settled back a bit from fear of an immediate attack. I thought there would be more right away. I think the world is much less safe with George W. Bush as president.”

Beth Proudfoot, 49
Almaden
Professional speaker


“My husband was stuck in Boston, a neighbor called to tell me what was happening. I didn’t fly for a few years, but my husband has to fly [for business]. I have flown now, but I’m more nervous. I have a brother-in-law and a good college friend who are [commercial] pilots who have been trained to use the guns they keep in the cockpit now. I’m concerned for their safety. I don’t feel safer now, even though I know they are doing everything possible. I do what I know is safe and I do everything to make sure our kids live normal lives. Last year I let my child go to Washington, D.C., but I thought long and hard about it. Five years ago, I would not have let him go.”

Maureen Saulpaugh, 40ish
Almaden
Homemaker


“It has changed as far as traveling. I’ve cancelled several trips. We recently cancelled a trip to England. It’s constantly on my mind. I don’t think I’m superstitious, but we’re lucky that something hasn’t happened again. We were in New York when it was on high alert. There were dogs, and people checking cars by putting mirrors under them. Security was everywhere before the convention. I guess we’ve been to New York three or four times since. We were there six months after 9/11 when we could look out from a church and see Ground Zero. I noticed mini blinds hanging from a tree. When we went back later, there were still remnants hanging in the tree and blowing in the wind. We also traveled there to see the blue light and Ground Zero."

Debra Cameron, 54
Almaden
Owner, Absolutely Uniforms


“I sometimes question [have doubts about] flying. I guess 9/11 makes me think that kind of stuff could happen anytime to anyone. It doesn’t scare me; it’s not going to stop me from flying. But it’s always in my mind. I saw a documentary [on TV] that showed what it was like being on the inside of the building. It was pretty grim.”

Drew Cameron, 16
Almaden
Junior at Leland High


"I think it’s made me more aware of what’s around me. My husband is a policeman and it’s made me really appreciative of what firemen and policemen do putting their lives on the line. It’s also made me more aware of life’s uncertainties and made me appreciate what I have. I saw the ‘World Trade Center’ movie and I cried through about three-fourths of it.”

Tami North, 44
Almaden/Blossom Valley border
Pharmacy tech


"It has probably heightened my awareness, and I value doing things and being with my family. It actually changed my perspective on my family. Now I rush to get home from work to be with them."

Jim Costello, 41
San Jose
Equipment operator


“I think I actually got closer to people. I look at them and smile at them and they smile back. It’s also made me more appreciative of everything.”

Marianne Martignette
Los Gatos
City of San Jose employee


“Yes, for sure it affected me. It was a huge tragedy. I saw the World Trade Center [from my home in Poland] and it upset me because it’s really unbelievable what [trouble] religion can cause. Now I am more careful, being in airports and going through England.”

Dagmara Marciniak, 26
Almaden
San Jose State student and nanny


“It’s made me more aware of what’s going on with everything and I stay more aware now. It was pretty devastating and showed how vulnerable we really are and how sick some minds of people are to come up with something like that.”

Ray Higgins, 53
Almaden
Unemployed


“It hasn’t had much impact on me. There are extra long lines in the airport. I’m glad security has improved in the airport. We go through strict security when we go to India. But I don’t think it has changed anything in my daily life. I am very sorry for the loss of life.”

Sree Meka, 36
Almaden
Physical therapist


“It has changed my life, and it has changed me. I’ve become more spiritual. I’m practicing my religion more by believing in God. It was an awakening for how naïve [me and] most United States citizens are. We live in a nice little community out here. But it’s made me more aware of what is going on in the world. It’s also made me thankful for my three beautiful children and my wonderful husband.”

Gina Kidder, 36
Almaden
Domestic engineer


“I’m more humble. I’m more scared, and I’m more involved in the life around me.”

Lucia Chambers, 74
Almaden
Psychologist


“I’m more worried about traveling and more worried about my family. Before 9/11, I never thought I would lose anyone in my family on an airplane or because of a terrorist attack.”

Judat Soptei, 27
Almaden
Professional training, special teacher


“I think that it’s made me appreciate even more how quickly the life and freedoms we enjoy can change in one moment. It’s also strengthened my faith. It’s made me more aware of how we live in a global world and how all of us are affected by things that happen far away from us.”

Pam Crider, 46
Cambrian Park
Almaden Branch Library manager


“It hasn’t changed my life directly. It’s made me feel more patriotic and made me pay more attention to national news and world politics. My daughter had a friend [Nicole Miller] that was killed on Flight 93.”

Cheryl Deegan, 50
Willow Glen
Real estate


“At the time, I was working as a teacher’s aide and trying to give the kids a sense of security. I think it’s brought me spiritually closer to my God and given me a greater sense of my country and my community. This morning, I had my silent moment and said a prayer for peace for the world.”

Jennifer Read, 43
Cambrian Park
PG&E


“I am more aware of situations that can happen to other people. Maybe our lifestyle has changed. We’ve always been fortunate with what we had. I think [the situation here] is 50 percent better and 50 percent worse.”

Joelle Nichols, 39
Blossom Valley
Paraprofessional


“I think it’s affected me in a couple of ways. I travel a lot and it’s made travel a lot more stressful. Security is uncertain and it takes much longer to travel and you are restricted in what you can carry on board. I also have a new awareness—because of 9/11—of international events. It’s made the world smaller. I also think I’ve become more patriotic. My son is entering the service [as a ROTC officer]. It’s his choice, but I’m always concerned. I think to me the events of 9/11 were catastrophic. It changed everyday life and our country hasn’t dealt with it totally rationally. I think to some extent 9/11 polarized society. It left us with a visceral reaction to exact vengeance, but we have to temper that with the costs of money, lives and the national psyche.”

Peter Wellington
Almaden
Marketing manager