We each remember that day…where we were…what we were doing when we first heard the news…it is permanently etched into our minds.
I was at work sitting at my computer. I got an email from my dad. He had been doing some work with the Pentagon so he told me to turn on the news. When I did, the first tower was already smoking, the damage had been done. The media were speculating. Then to our horror, the second plane made a direct impact into the other tower. I remember feeling sick to my stomach and a lump welled up in my throat. I remember the fear and confusion that gripped me. What the hell was happening?!
As most others did, I spent the rest of the day watching the news, listening to speculation and developing stories while simultaneously contacting loved ones. My wife, Lisa, was pregnant with our first child at the time. I remember how it rocked us both when we got home. We just embraced and talked about how the world seemed to drastically change in an instant.
In reality our world had not changed, but our perception of it did. No longer could we live behind the veil of comfort, the type of comfort that claimed this could NEVER happen in our country. It was a wake up call, a shock to the system. Our perspective became much more global and we realized our actions around the world (or at least the perception of them) had implications. But as a country, we stood strong together in support of the victims and their families. We listened to story after story of the firefighters, police officers and other volunteers who so heroically risked their lives to drag people from the collapsing buildings. We wore NYPD and NYFD gear in support of the heroes lost.
I grew up as the son of a firefighter. I know their personalities, I know their courage. I know the sense of humor that conceals the horror they witnessed on a regular basis. I know how they humbly just call it their “job” when we all know it is much more than that.
So this year, as we hear warnings about new threats, I guess we do live in a different world. Our country fell victim to acts revealing the worst of humanity, but in response we saw some of the best of humanity. Hatred reared its ugly head in some, but we also saw God’s presence in the courage, love, grace and peace of those who cleaned up the mess and cared for the wounds.
It’s been ten years, and we will never forget…
How about you? What are your memories of 9/11? How did it impact you?
Tags: 9/11, september 11th
One Response to “9/11: ten years later…”