Still So Very Vivid, 911

9-11-2001

I shall forever remember every detail: Who I was with, the restaurant and even the booth in which we were seated. And I remember our server's name. I cannot tell you what I ate for breakfast this morning but I can tell you what I ate for breakfast that day. And, I remember the time that the server came over to the table and said nonchalantly, "a plane just hit the world trade center in New York according to CNN".

I remember it all in vivid detail as though, sadly, it happened again today.

J.T., a long time friend and business acquaintance
Peter's Grill
The fourth booth on the east wall
Marie, from South Minneapolis
An egg white omelet with tomatoes and spinach and wheat toast, no butter
7:51 Central Standard Time, according to my watch

I then remember discussing and dismissing the event with J.T. who is a fellow pilot. We both speculated that surely some fool-hearted private pilot flew errantly close to the buildings while on a sightseeing tour only to be tricked by the cross winds which often prevail in the airspace where the rivers converge at the tip of Manhattan. We were quite sure of our supposition until Marie came back to the table and said, "America is under attack".

And, with her words, my mind raced with thoughts of the many years of work I had spent in and around those buildings and the friends and business comrades who still hung their hats there.

I will spare you the rest of the details. The quick exist from the diner, the sprint back to my office, the conference room full of glistening eyes. I will not delve into the details of my panicked calls to my mentor and best friend or to the eight other friends and former business partners who worked in the North Tower. I will not tell you that with each unanswered call that my despair grew larger and my heart sank lower and my feeling of vulnerability became out of control. And I will not admit to a bitter-sweet feeling when, over the course of the next 24 hours, I learned that - of the nine I had tried to contact that morning - seven made it out alive or, luckily, were away on business. My best friend and "adopted brother" was thankfully one of the lucky ones. And, regrettably, two friends perished.

This is the eleventh anniversary of this event and, each and every year, I fool myself that it is going to be easier than the last anniversary. I am equally stunned that every single detail of the day comes to mind. And I am amazed that the sadness of that day has not lessened that much in my mind or in the minds of so many Americans, especially those in New York and New Jersey.

They say that time is the cure for all wounds. But for the families and friends that lost loved ones in the WTC attack, I am sure there will never be enough time to heal. And to those families, my heart is with you this - and every - day.

In the limited time that I had during my commute, I was desperately looking for an image that would be a metaphor for the Twin Towers. This overtly moody and intentionally distressed and ashen image of two sets of shiny train tracks which appear to strong and marching forth - only to be lost in the distance - somehow hit home for me. Also, please excuse me for my long windedness this evening. It felt better to write these words than to keep them all inside. And while my schedule is quite full the remainder of this week and I will have little time to comment, I am turning back on my comments for today in case others want to add there thoughts about this day of memory and reflection.