This morning I woke up with this uncontrollable urge to purge junk out of my home office. So, that's what I did. I went and started cleaning out file cabinets and drawers. In 10 minutes I had filled an industrial size trash bag. And, then I ran across something I did not throw out. It was a folder of documents from my former place of employment; headquartered kitty corner from the World Trade Center. Ironic I would find the folder today. I haven't looked at it in seven years.
On the morning of September 11, 2001 I was in my home office making finishing touches on a project I was to present in New York on September 14. My flight was booked and my reservations were already made at the Millennium Hilton (where I always stayed). By 9AM I had stopped working on the project to watch the horror on the TV. By 10AM, the hotel had already called to ask if I wanted to book my reservation at another Hilton property. My answer was "No. I will not be coming to New York this week." By 11AM I was putting up an emergency web page to help centralize communications in the search for Moody's employees located in the New York office. Amazingly, not a single employee in our New York office lost their life; although it took us over a week to locate all of them. During the attack, and the fall of the towers, our office became a Red Cross triage center.
Three months later, our offices re-opened and I drove (I did not fly) to New York to finish that project. Streets were still closed down vehicular traffic 10 blocks out from ground zero. I took a cab as far as I could, walked the rest of the way to our office and met the project team in the 11th floor conference room. Needless to say, the view outside the window made it hard for me to focus on anything related to web sites. There was still soot in the air. I left that day smelling like an ash tray.
Here I am 7 years later. I am not the same. Before that day, I didn't understand the meaning of the word patriotism; I do now. I took the privilege of our country for granted; I don't now.
One of the reasons I have a hard time being passionate about "politics" is because of the mud slinging, the slander, the unhealthy fight to win at all costs. I don't believe in a country with BLUE states or RED states, but a country of UNITED STATES.
Tonight, we prayed for the people who lost loved ones in the tragedy of 9/11. You know it's not a good day for them. I'm sorry for their pain.
Wow, Kem. Didn't realize you were so connected to Sept11. Prayers are being sent up all those affected by this and all tragedies in our world.
Hope to run into you next week @ Innovate Oh Ate.
Posted by: Blake | Sep 12, 2008 at 11:33 PM