Two years ago today, I went to the office for our monthly branch meeting. Back then I worked from home and so my interaction with other people was somewhat limited except for prospects and customers I would be trying to reach on a daily basis. However, on that day, my team went in for a sales meeting. However, we never got started. As we sat down in the conference room, word soon came that two airplanes had flown into the Twin Towers. No one knew if it was an accident or an act of terrorism. As we tried to figure out what was going, some heard rumors that an airplane or two were headed towards the Sears Tower. Since our office was less than a block away, management wisely decided to have us depart for home. As a colleague and I waited to hail a cab, there was this strange sense of calm in the air. Once I got home, I was glued to the television after calling ever relative I have in New York as well as the rest of the East Coast to make sure they were safe. The next few hours and days were all a jumble. Not much work got done. I continued to stare at the television. Still grieving for my own mother who had died many years before, I couldn’t even begin to fully comprehend what the surviving family members where going through. It’s one thing to know that a loved one is going to die and somewhat get yourself ready for the inevitable, but when it happens so suddenly and so violently, I can only imagine that your core is shaken and that it takes to a long while to fully process everything that has happened. As two years have now passed, I hope that as difficult as it may be, many have been able to move on and get beyond the financial compensation that they seek. Money surely won’t bring their loved ones back. More importantly, I truly hope that we never have to experience another 9/11. I’m not optimistic considering all the hatred spreading throughout the globe, but it would be nice to think that we could work out our differences through dialog. In addition, that we could take the time to learn about each others cultures and religions and respect our differences. Acts of terrorism by cowards who target civilian, military or government personnel and buildings is not the answer.
Btw, I took picture to the left while visiting New York earlier this year. I initially wasn’t going to visit “ground zero” but I couldn’t resist the urge while there. As I walked around, I was surprised by my own emotions. Before then, I always thought that New York needed to rebuild – but once there, it felt like a burial ground. Hopefully the final plans will provide for a proper memorial to the victims.