When I pick my son up from school every day we always have discussions on various topics or what his day entailed. Now that he is in 8th grade our discussions have become quite mature. Today he was troubled. They had watched a film in one of his classes regarding the events of 9/11/2001. Some of the kids in the class were making light of it and he couldn’t understand why they would do that. We talked for a bit and then he asked me, “Where were you?”
No one has ever really asked me about it before (and I have never wrote about it) so I obliged. I was working at Principal preparing RFP documents for the real estate division… my first real cubical farm job. I worked on the 17th floor of 801 Grand and had just left my apartment at Grand Trees so it was a short enough drive. I turned on the radio to listen to Mancow in the morning. Mindless morning drive time drivel with a bit more balls than Bob Tom. As I approached the parking ramp, the voices on the radio became more serious, almost frantic which caught my attention.
The first tower was struck as I pulled into my parking spot. It wasn’t registering. I thought it was a “War of the Worlds” type prank as there had never been anything of substance on the show before that I knew of. I sat there listening to the banter while watching the clock knowing that I would be late if I listened much longer. I walked in the building as others were walking out. I thought nothing of it. I got to my floor to find it completely empty but I could hear chatter. Everyone was packed into a conference room staring at a TV that had just been brought in. We all watched in silent horror as the second plane hit in real time.
I barely remember anything that was said after that moment other than our supervisor saying we did not need to stay. I barely remember listening to the radio on my drive out of there and for some reason I drove straight to my parents. My dad was at work but my mom was home. I barely remember our conversation but remember it being difficult. We stood in their driveway consoling each other. Everything is fuzzy after that. Life eventually went back to normal, or as normal as it ever would be again.
I do remember the days that followed that the entire nation seemed to come together as one. Unfortunately, that oneness was only for a short while.
I’ll never forget.