September 12th Still Here

It’s September 12.
And I’m still here.

Yes, I am.

Monday was 9/11. The 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York.
Yesterday, a number of individuals were interviewed by the media, many more reflected on where they were on that day.

Reflections on what they thought.
How fortunate they or loved ones were.
Or offering up painful memories on the loss of life.

I didn’t want to distract from any of them.
My heart truly goes out to all of them.

I have a story too.

I was there. In New York. On 9/11/01.

I was vacationing with my wife, my brother, sister, her husband and daughter back then.
We saw the sites, went to a Yankees game, ate great food.

We flew out the morning of.

We were in the air when the attacks came.
We didn’t know anything had happened.
Until we landed in Cincinnati for a layover.

Crowds were gathered in the airport watching the news.
Everyone was in state of disbelief.
Some were crying. Or phoning loved ones.

We were all stunned.
This couldn’t be happening.
Our country was under attack?

We saw the towers fall. Miechelle and I had just been there.
At the top of the WTC, looking out at the city.
It later occurred to me that we were one of the last groups of tourists there.
At the top, looking out.

We quickly discovered, all fights were grounded. How were we to return home?
We sat and waited. And waited, still trying to make sense of what happened.

We called family and friends.
“Yes, we were OK.” “We did make it out of New York safely.”
“No, we donn’t know how we would get home.”

Eventually someone approached us, heard of our dilemma and offered to drive all of us and one more to Chicago and then to Milwaukee, where our cars were parked.
$100 each, and we were soon on our way.

I remember thinking on that drive home, that our world had just changed, never to be the same.

Who had done this?
Would there be more attacks?
Were my parent’s OK?
My kids, scattered around the country, were they safe?
That’s all I could think of.

Since then, I’ve been asked to comment on what I felt.
Over the years, I’ve turned down the occasional media request for an interview.
All of them wanting to know how I felt.
Cannot do it.
What I felt is not important.
I made it.
Many others did not.

I think large scale events like this makes everyone stop and wonder what could have been.
And not always right away though.
At least not with me.

Over time, I’ve wondered if there was a reason we left when we did.
How would I have responded if I had been on one of the planes?
Or in the Tower the same moment when the airliner crashed into it.

But there really is no sufficient answer.
I wasn’t on the plane.
Or in the Tower.

I’m writing this the day after the anniversary.
As I said, I don’t want to offer a distraction from the thoughts and recollections shared yesterday.
So many others have suffered,
that day and every day since with their memories.

I didn’t.
My family didn’t suffer either.
There was worry, anxiety, fear even.
But no, we were all right, we were safe.

So, I don’t usually mention that I was in New York that day.
And when I do reflect on that day, 16 years ago, I think of the needless suffering.
The pain and anguish many still feel.
There are no good reasons for this tragedy that can ever make sense.

And, I do think of one other thing.
That I’m grateful.
Extremely.

If there is one lesson taken from this senseless act, it is
to be grateful.

Today.
And every day after.

My family, friends are still here.

And so am I.
JT

Marvin Gaye
What’s going On/
2 favorite lines
War is not the answer
Only love can conquer hate…
click the link….

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