Remembering This Day 10 Years

Where was I ten years ago on 9/11?

I was at work, working a normal day in the crazy life of a Quality Engineer at Lear Corporation. I don't recall what I was doing exactly WHEN the first plane hit the first tower and the news started to come in, but I do remember going down to the then cafeteria building/room on the south end of the plant over there on Alpine Avenue.

They had tv monitors up and showing the event as it continued to unfold. I know my co-workers and I stood and sat there speaking out loud, "What the eff?" I recall thinking and probably saying, along with everyone else, that there had been some sort of aviation accident where a plane coming into NY had strayed off course and slammed into a building.

And then when the second plane came in (we saw the actual footage as it played out) and hit the second tower, I think we all went quiet and realized...there was something more going on. I think you could have heard the proverbial pin drop in that room as we watched in stunned and horrified silence at what continued to unfold.

At some point I stepped outside and called home where my wife and one-year-old son were. I wanted to run home and just be with them. There was some realization inside me of the possible horrors now that could attack and destroy MY world. There was some realization that other men and women would not be returning home to their families, and possibly some families (at the time did not know if children had been killed in the attack and plane hijackings) not returning home to their loved ones. A deep deep dread and sadness enveloped me like a pool of black water.

Yes, the world stopped turning that day, and it still seems to wobble quite a bit since. Though I still take as many moments to stand in the warm light of the sun or the cool refreshing rain, a little seed of fear and unbalance resonates inside due to all this.

May God bless us all and may we continue to push for things in our own little circles and the larger circles of community and the world towards the good and the right in the face of chaos, fear and evil.