Where were you 9-11-2001?

(photos above from www.911digitalarchives.com)

There are those few instances in your life you will always remember where you were. Not in my generation, when JFK was assassinated (my brother was born on that day a numbe of years later) to the Berlin Wall crumbling.

One such day for me started when the Space Shuttle exploded and Sally Ride was on it. I was in middle school and eating lunch when our school principal called for a moment of silence. Everyone (all the students and teachers) were in shock and horrified. Later on at home, we saw the actual incident recorded and repeated on various news outlets.

But the big one of the recent years was 9-11 (to us Americans) in the year 2001, we shall all never forget. I remember getting into work and chatting with my boss Joe. He had spent the prior weekend in NYC and had had a lovely time there. In fact, he was below the World Trade Tower Buildings because his hotel was nearby. He had sat there and enjoyed a coffee (I believe) and reconnected with a friend. I always made a habit to ask how the wekeend was with various colleagues at my old job at Funk.

While in my cubicle executing the regular tasks dealing with the international vendors/resellers, someone said the "A plane hit the World Trade Tower in NY!". I will never forget those words. At first I was numb with shock, my head with disbelief! This couldn't be happening as these thoughts raced through my mind. I immediately went to my friend's cubicle (She has a small black and white tv on). I watched with her as all the news stations were scrambling and broadcasting live about what was happening. Before our very eyes, we saw a second plane crash into the other World Trade Tower". Not long afterwards, we saw them both crumble. I cannot fathom or recall how long time elapsed before that occurred. But the horror and fear and thick ribbons of smoke emanating from the Towers and the site were devastating to watch.
Since Boston is not that far, alot of people I knew had friends who were in New York. Myself included, we tried calling but all the phone lines were busy (cell and land lines). But those with chat access (AOL AIM, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, MSN) were the saving grace and I was able to contact some friends I knew in New York to see they were ok. They were thank goodness. Later on, I would learn that my friend's wife was in the area of the World Trade Towers but she came out safely.

The subway systems were skewed and thousands to hundred thousands of New Yorkers had to commute by walking home (pouring onto the highways and streets) back home to as far away at Queens, Brooklyn and New Jersey. Many people afterwards would not wear uncomfortable shoes because of 911. (Understandbly so, how could anyone walk a few miles not less a few yards in four inch stiletto heels?)

My company still remained open for business on 911. I had chatted with others and they were able to leave early or take the rest of the day off. To be truthful, it was not a very productive day. I got emails from all over. In my prior job experience at Funk, I interacted with many great people for my job (but never met them). They wrote about how their hearts are out for the American people and what they were experiencing right now and in solidarity with us. I felt very happy to read their words of comfort and encouragement. When you think about it, the world is getting smaller and smaller with the incredible advents of technology.

That day also marked the supposed arrival date of my "oh nee's " folks to arrive from Korea, but they got stuck in Canada. Travel was paralyzed for many days after 911. In fact, my "oh nee" was getting married that weeken in Western Massachusetts. Up until the last minute, we were not sure if her parents would arrive in time for the wedding. In the end, we had a fairytale wedding and the parents arrive in the wee hours of the morning of the wedding. They were very tired but we were all happy they were there at the wedding. A spot of happiness to end a somber week that started out with 911.

During this time period, many people reflected how short life is and to live it to the fullest. I was saddened for all those innocent people who were just doing their usual thing getting for work and taking the subway, bus, car and walking to work at the World Trade Towers. I found out one of my friends, they were supposed to fly on one of those fated American Airlines flight to LA that got diverted and rammed into one of the towers. It turned out they woke up late and didn't make their flight.

As the fifth anniversary has passed, my heart still goes out to everyone --those unsung heroes, those families in DC, PA and NYC as well as abroad (there were many international citizens who also perished that day). But since that day, has their been success in fighting terrorism? Has travel really become more safer for all people to be able to travel? Have we really learned from this tragic event to avoid a future another 911?