Yours Mine and Ours

Remembering 9/11

Today marks the seventh year anniversary of 9/11 and I can’t help but reflect on the events of that dreadful day. I remember I woke up and turned on the radio as I was getting ready. The DJ said they would be interviewing someone from D.C. who had witnessed the attacks. I instantly thought of Orson Wells broadcast of War of the Worlds. I thought it was a joke and I was sickened to think someone would find that amusing or entertaining. The idea that it had actually happened was beyond my comprehension. I went down stairs to grab a bite before heading to the office and I turned on CNN like I usually did and to my shock the terrible events described were reality.

I was glued to the TV and watched the events replay over and over. I eventually had to turn it off and make my way into the office. I couldn’t focus all day, didn’t even know why I was there, it was as though the whole world had stopped. I listened to the radio all day and read updates on the Internet. For weeks after I read and re-read personal accounts of the attacks– I was obsessed with trying to understand and comprehend the sheer magnitude of the events. Still to this day I cannot….

In 1997 I visited the Pearl Harbor memorial – before viewing the memorial they played a short video describing the events of that day and the casualties. It struck me to my core and I was overwhelmed with emotion. There were 2,117 deaths as a result of the attack; there were ~2,974 deaths from the 9/11 attacks- the number vary depending on the source.

I was scheduled to be in Boston on 9/13 for business. All flights were grounded on 9/11 and 9/12. I had to reschedule my flight 5 times as a result of the cancellations. Eventually I was able to get a flight for 9/13 -I remember looking around on the plane and noticed other people looking around and I sensed their apprehension. I observed others praying before we took off. When I arrived at Logan Int’l airport I remember the eerie feeling that swept over me as I stepped into the airport. It was practically empty. The thought kept coming to me… just two days earlier the terrorist were here………

This past May Michael and I went to New York City. I have wanted to visit ground zero ever since the attacks. Michael and I took the subway and were expecting to see a memorial when we arrived. Instead what we saw was a tall fence around what looked to be 5 city blocks. It is now a construction site for the new freedom towers. Walking around the site, I still could not comprehend the buildings collapsing or how anyone had a chance to get away – this is something I will never understand.

God bless the families and victims of 9/11.