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    9/11 widow speaks of the day her life changed forever

    By Emily Payne | Yahoo! News – Thu, Sep 8, 2011

    Ten years ago the 9/11 terrorist attacks directly changed thousands of lives forever - from the families of those who died, to people who were actually in the Twin Towers when the planes struck. To commemorate the event, we have spoken to two victims to hear their stories of that fateful day.
    Karin Charles
    “It was the not knowing,” says Karin Charles. “Not knowing for days, was he alive or wasn't he? I hoped that he would be somewhere, that somehow he would come back home as usual.”

    Karin's husband, Kenneth Zelman, 37, was among the 2,753 people killed in the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001. “I was taking care of the kids and a friend called me. She started asking 'Where's Ken?' I explained he was at work,” says Karin.

    “'Do you have the TV on?' she asked. As I switched it on my heart sank. Then when he hadn't come home after three days, and they hadn't found anyone else in the hospitals, I realised he was gone.”

    Karin, 41, now lives in Boston and is a stay-at-home-mum to five children: Olivia, 13, and Ethan, 11, from her marriage to Ken and Victoria, 4, Amelia, 3, Zander, 1, from her current husband, London born careers coach, Dennis. She continues: “The hardest thing was telling Olivia. How can you tell a three-year-old child that her daddy isn't coming home? 

    “It's something that nobody should really have to go through. Then you think that at least 3000 people had to deal with this.”

    We rewind to 11 September 2001, a sunny day in New York City.

    Karin says: “Ken was working for Oracle. Businesses would purchase Oracle software and Ken would be stationed with them on a temporary basis, could be two months, could be up to a year to help them implement the software.

    “At the time of 9/11, he was with a company called Marsh and McLennan in the World Trade Centre. He was on the 99th floor that day.
    Karin Charles and Kenneth Zelman on their wedding day in 1992.
    “It's hard to imagine that ten years has gone by so quickly, it feels like it has only just happened.

    “Ken had a wicked sense of humour and everybody commented on his great smile. He was really family orientated, he couldn't wait to get home from work to see the kids. He was a really happy person.

    “I very much miss and love Ken, but I am very happy in the life that I have now, so it's hard to articulate it without wishing my life away, because I have children and a wonderful husband whom I wouldn't have had.”

    “I was a single parent and it was up to me to make sure my kids were raised well. I could have sat in the corner and cried myself to sleep every night. But I decided to be a model for Olivia and Ethan on how to handle this unusual situation in which we can mourn the loss of their dad, but at the same time be strong and live our lives.”

    “It's bittersweet that they didn't really get to know their father personally, they know him through videos, photos and stories. Especially Ethan because he was only one year old at the time.

    “It is a little easier as time goes by, but of course it is getting dredged back up again now because of the ten year anniversary, and dealing with it publicly is awkward. It is interesting to have that responsibility and I am happy to do it because it makes Ken more of a person, he's not just a name or number.

    “For 9/11 this year, we are going back to New Jersey to spend time at a friend's house. It's low-key and that's just what seems right for us at this time.

    Karin married her current husband, Dennis, in summer 2004. She says: “It's OK to move on. I'm sure that's what Ken would want me to do. I know it's a cliché. But why have more than his life sacrificed because of this? Dennis is very respectful and open to keeping Ken's spirit alive within our home and that means a lot to me.”

    Related link: We also spoke to Janice Brook, who was in the World Trade Centre’s South Tower when the planes struck. To read her recollection of the events click here.

     

    122 comments

    • Ibrahim Kamaluddin
      Ibrahim Kamaluddin  •  8 months ago
      I FELT SORRY FOR WHAT HAD HAPPEN ? AS AN HUMAN BEING WE SHOULD ALWAYS NEED TO REALISE THIS WORLD HIS TEMPORARY SO PLS DO NO EVIL !
      GOD PROTECT US FROM THE EVIL LEAD US AN PEACE & HARMONY LIFE!!!
    • Chieftain
      Chieftain  •  8 months ago
      Hi 13th Spirit, so there are no Christian extremists with agenda of their own, huh?. The Bush Administration are pockmarked with political appointees fundamentalists with the plan to spread wars thru-out the Mid East & changed it in America's its image. Still don't believe it?. Watch on Youtube a speech by former Supreme Allied Commander, NATO(SACEUR), 4 star General Wesly Clark. Search for it & see how Bush Administration intended to use the 9/11 as an opportunity 'clean out undesirables' from the region by using Iraq as an examlple & stepping stone to change the region no matter the cost in human blood preferably Muslims blood of course.
    • JC
      JC  •  8 months ago
      The first casualty of war is humanity.

      After this 10 years of so-called War On Terror, not only the world is not a safer place, much freedom and human rights are being compromised in the name of security. And the world is sadder and people, in particular Americans, are more scared. Thanks Mr Bush while you are enjoying yourself with the oil money.
    • JC
      JC  •  8 months ago
      If the root cause of Terrorism was not thoughly understood, or deliberately being avoided. It will never end and you will have a million more bin Laden to come.

      Terrorism comes from unjust and baised Middle East foreign policies since WW2. We of cause pity the innocent civilians who died during 9/11, but the same applies to the many more thousands civilians being killed by Americans in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afhanistan, Libya, etc. Those people are equals to the Americans, not lower lives. And they alo have their families and children.

      If the Americans do not have the wisdom to question themselves why they are so being hated, Terrorism will never go away. Violence will not stop violence. Never.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  8 months ago
      Canada must arrest George W. Bush if he enters Canada

      http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26456
    • A Yahoo! User  •  8 months ago
      Some muslims & sympathisers here claimed america's Bush planned the 911 incident? For those who supported such theory & tried this baseless accusation...Remember that the US need not resort to this kind of atrocities to win all Americans' support against muslims?..It is now the trickery & self denial of those revengeful muslim extremists to pin such concocted "make belief" suspicion on the ex-American president Bush & hisAdministration...See how far can deviated Islam goes for this is the way they wiggle their tongues in & out & twisting the real picture which we & the world already know.......Muslims extremists & Sympathisers...go try something more convincing.........KLC.
      • A Yahoo! User 8 months ago
        go to you tube to and watch "loose change" full version
      • Half Dead Citizen
        Half Dead Citizen 8 months ago
        Weapon of mass destruction were never found, it doesn't exist. Iraq, Libya, Iran are oil rich. Its a good target for self interest. North Korean leader, Myanmar's Junta leaders are men of evils don't you think? They killed their own people and even monks. But is it worthy of an attack? Nope. No oil, no attack. It's ironic that we are still defending George Bush for that matter. The United Nations was not respected. George Bush decided to act unilaterally. Going against the aspiration of rest of the world. How can we ever respect the United Nations the way we did in the past if it fails to contain warmongering nations like the US and UK? Who incited war? The Muslims? I beg to differ Sir. Just for the record, I am not even a Muslim. There's no difference between George Bush, Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. He deserves to receive the same punishment. Oil and gas businessman securing his post presidency future. Does it make sense? Nobody hates Americans in general. We just hate hypocrites like George Bush.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  8 months ago
      Dear Karin Charles,did you ask Mr President OBAMA why USD Note are related with 9/11?

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPATWhux7Uo
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC71TjXb05w&feature=related
    • dolphind
      dolphind  •  8 months ago
      Why don't tell story of widows in Iraq, Afghanistan ?? I want to hear.
      American WASP (white anglo saxon protestan) & Jews $100
      WASP non-american (a bit cheaper, pick your own price)
      American non-WASP eg. black (even less less lah) $ 60-80
      Non-american, non-white but protestan/christian eg. pinoys, evangelist asian who are in delusion they hv same value like wasp because they also are christian : $ 50 at most (african christian lot cheaper)
      Non-american, non-white not christian but not muslim $ 35 at most
      Non-american non white, muslim - Alamak, worst combination ! $ minus
    • Tv Media
      Tv Media  •  8 months ago
      Let Move On. Always remember this day that change our history.
    • Jane
      Jane  •  8 months ago
      So many children lost their dad/mums. So many parents have lost thier children. Husbands/wives did not come back. So sad.
      • MMS
        MMS 8 months ago
        Do you also feel sad for the atrocities committed in Jerusalem prior to 9/11?
    • singaporezombie
      singaporezombie  •  8 months ago
      LKY will definitely tell her-"let's move on"........
    • viviviuniversalmindinvasi ...
      viviviuniversalmindinvasi ...  •  8 months ago
      Exposed:-
      911 was a Top Secret US Government Project to open a doorway into our parallel universe.
      Notice the 2 significant conditions:-
      1) Two highly visible landmark structures as anchor points, like the Egyptian Pyramid, to anchor the earth’s current timeline co-ordinates.
      2) A great congregation of human emotions to connect the universes.
      The result was an astounding success. Two subjects were brought back to this universe and they have visited & confirmed their physical presence with their loves ones. However, those were willing participants of Project 911 and were sworn to secrecy. The study is still on-going to bring back more subjects that went over. Unusual experiences were reported by visitors to ground zero that during stages of high emotional connection, they felt as though the buildings were still there. The gateway has already being opened since then.
      This connection of universes had to do with the important timeline event on this universe, on 21/Dec/2012, whereby our current timeline will be switched to a higher dimensional timeline. This event has been known to the fore-fathers of the Mayans, thousands of years ago, but they did not have the ability to project to a higher dimensional timeline, which explains why their calendar stopped there.
      Oops..., I think my message has been intercepted by ..., sorry, got to go now.......
      • Antonius
        Antonius 8 months ago
        pls be respectful to the victims of this incident.. dun bulls**t and talk crap...
      • Janas
        Janas 8 months ago
        siow!
    • Davide Rossi
      Davide Rossi  •  8 months ago
      former president george bush....he is the real terrorist.....
      • reveal
        reveal 8 months ago
        no
        it is the violent muslim terrorist
    • A Yahoo! User  •  8 months ago
      Revenge killings wont solve this issues....it's either they stop killing each other just to justified their cause...Or Go for one all out war......Nothing to negotiate if the 2 sides wont back down...So we dun post stupid comments on this blog..like you are this & the other is like taht...or racist insults....It not use...wont work.. 2 hands must be locked & settle thru sincere & honest dialogues.....otherwise unnessary wars will happen in no time....If the muslim side cant compromise..then if they still want power & war using their religion Islam to suppress others..Then they shall have war.....weapons of Mass Destruction will ensured that All human being will disappear from this earth...and those who wanted this war so much wont even have the power & lives to live here!!!! Choose yr fate But not the wrong deviated faith?????.KLC
    • Natasha
      Natasha  •  8 months ago
      She was married to late hubby for 9 years but remarried in less than 3 years. Quoted by her: I am very happy in the life that I have now. I have children and a wonderful husband whom I wouldn't have had.”

      Sorry to say this, but I think it was much easier for her to move on than normal people with her plight.
    • Imation
      Imation  •  8 months ago
      Go on a scriptural war against the faith that created these scums, otherwise you will just continue to wage this war while they continue to breed non-stop.

      If you want terrorism to stop, the ONLY way is to wedge wide open the religious faith and intervene in the way her doctrines are spread. If you cannot go in and take it out, you can forget about ending this war.

      What's worse is pretending there's nothing wrong with it.
      • Guided By Voices
        Guided By Voices 8 months ago
        Dream on. They are here to stay till end of time. So eat your hearts out...!
      • CubanCat
        CubanCat 8 months ago
        id like to wedge u wide open
    • CubanCat
      CubanCat  •  8 months ago
      You lost one loved one but who's gonna cry and mourn for all the tens of thousands of civilians killed, raped or disabled like meagre worms treated as 'use and dispose' collateral damage just because America wanted to go after Osama?
    • Bunch_apple2023
      Bunch_apple2023  •  8 months ago
      Really???in a short period of time she married right away?It shows how much she loved him, she mourn so much for his lost.
    • sad
      sad  •  8 months ago
      ALL is bulshit i believe those people were paid by US GOVERNMENT too act,as those people already dead long time ago.....and they are all widowed...where is the BLACK BOX......?
    • KABABOOOOM
      KABABOOOOM  •  8 months ago
      Not saying anything against the victims who died (it really is a very horrible event), but if I was married and lost my husband in such a tragic way, I'd never marry again. Ever. The pain would be far too great. What kind of **** article this is.
     Post a comment
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