Updates and Comments From Shabbir's Family     On September 11th our father, husband and brother became part of our memories forever. We so dreadfully wished that someone would capture these moments of tragedy and recollection for our family and for our father. It was more than a fear that he would be forgotten but a fear that we would forget him. You so eloquently captured the memories of our father, husband and brother and so silently healed our hearts in way that we will forever be grateful for. More over than being a Documentary about the strife of humanity in the center of terror your documentary has become so much for so many we know. Alleviating the still heavy hearts of our friends and family who like, so many we know, knew so little on how to deal with such a tragedy.     You not only healed our hearts of distress but the renewed our pride in living the very second you walked through our front door.     We only met a couple days after the tragedy but it felt like we knew you forever. The very second you began your questions you eased our hearts greatly. We could not bear to ask each other what you asked us for our responses would be too much for one another. Instead we told you. We only hoped that you would understand and surely you did. So many days passed as you filmed all you saw, only telling us what we could relate to but we could not fully understand. Thanbir worked with you, but even he had difficulty in explaining what the film would turn out to be. As time progressed we individually became better, we continued on with our day-to-day life from work to school. Months passed as we gradually healed our wounds and finally became ultimately as well as were prior to the day September 11th. But in our hearts we still feared we would forget the memory of Shabbir.     As we sat through the screening of "Telling Nicholas" all we saw on each other¯s faces were tears. We relived the tragedy so vividly as if it had happened yesterday. When the film ended words could not describe the emotions that went through our minds and bodies. We had not expected what we saw. You not only presented to the world the pain we went through, the memorable moments we had with him, but you presented our world. The world we live in, the religion we follow and the way in which we mourned the loss of Shabbir was all shown so accurately it provided us with much hope that people would understand the agony we faced was the same as any other family that had just lost a loved one. Our pride was so greatly levitated as we watched you show to the world the anger we faced because of the attack and how greatly ignorant those who did it were.     As the middle child and the only boy of the family the healing process for me was much more differing then that of the rest of my family. After the initial shot I knew that being able to capture this moment in history was helping me deal with death of my own father. Meeting Nicholas further strengthened my heart and hopes. Being able to speak to you and Dr. Gilda presented me a window to express my worries, renewed goals and a source for motivation. A majority of my decisions in the time period immediately following the tragedy were aided by both of you, and for that I am thankful for. Meeting Nicholas¯s family was even a further help. As me and Nicholas gradually became close and the connection that had brought us together was finally told to him I noticed that I began to emulate Nicholas¯s strength in understanding his loss as well as dealing with the death of his mother and going on with life. Nothing could have been more gratifying in my life when I realized when Nicholas grandmother began to look at me more than a Muslim boy. Her words of sympathy as well as support after realizing our common loss made me feel as though the death of my father has had more than one positive affect on the world. Though she despised my background because of what had happened, I knew for certain she had changed to someone who cared and realized the truth.     No matter how many times we say "Thank You" it will never be enough for what you have done for us. More than anything you captured the memory of our father, husband and brother. You healed our hearts yet again and healed the hearts of our friends and family. You presented to the world more than a story about the attack, what you showed was the survival of two families after the death of their loved ones. We can only thank you again for such a superb documentary and for what you have done to help us through such difficult times. A Family that thanks you greatly, The Ahmed Family     © 2001-03 James Ronald Whitney See the Web sites for the director's other films: Just, Melvin, TheWorkingGirl.com and Games People Play: New York Comments or questions about the Web site contact the WebMaster at www.SolutionsWebDesign.net