Needless to say, no one in the training session could concentrate. Since this was a software training, we were all in the IT training room, in front of a computer. Most of us were surfing the Internet, trying to find out more information. By the time the first break came along, the first tower had already fallen. I was still in a state of disbelief. The training session was cut short not long after the break ended, when we received word from HR that employees were being allowed to go home.

There was a very different energy in the air when I got back to my office. My colleagues were in a state of shock & disbelief, much like myself. Radios were sharing the news with us. America was being attacked! The World Trade Center just fell! Few of us wanted to be alone, even for the ride home. Chuck, one of the Directors on my floor, decided that we should send out for pizza and all have lunch together. (Chuck is full of good ideas.)

It was at the pizza shop that I saw my first TV coverage of the day. It was there that I saw the World Trade Center crumble, for the first time. Of course, like most Americans, I would see this image dozens of times over the next few days. Watching the tower collapse, I thought I had stepped into some new action movie with incredible special effects. It was all still too unbelievable to be true!

The pizza lunch, as it turned out, was a great idea. It gave us a chance to get together, vent our frustrations and discuss the meanings of the day's events. It felt good to know that I was not alone in my feelings of disbelief.

After a while, listening to the news on the radio & talking about it became too depressing. Chuck had another brainstorm! We should play Pictionary on the whiteboard in the conference room where we were having lunch. We turned the radio off and allowed ourselves to forget about the day's events for a little while. You try to draw the word "interesting".

I left the office that day with a very heavy heart but in good spirits. I spent the rest of the day watching the news in a state of shock and disbelief.

Disbelief: this is a word I have used a lot to describe my feelings. Almost 4 weeks later, this word still applies. I can not believe the World Trade Center is gone! Maybe this wouldn't be so hard if I didn't live so close to NYC, if the WTC was not part of my everyday life. If you are reading this from outside the NY area, please sign my guestbook and tell me how you feel.

...It's surreal. As I watched the twin towers crumble on TV it felt like I was watching a movie. It looked like a special effect. I can't believe I will not see the World Trade Center in the NYC skyline on my next trip to Hoboken. Just writing this brings tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. It's just UNREAL! A tragedy like this really forces things into perspective. It's good to see our politicians putting aside their petty partisan differences to support the President. I may not be W's biggest fan, but I am confident he will do the right thing in response to this terrorist attack on our way of life.

It is the way we respond to a tragedy like this that make America the strong country it is. This is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. I am hearing overwhelming stories of the outpouring of support and charity in NYC. Regular, everyday people are doing extraordinary things to help and support their fellow human beings, their fellow Americans. These stories make my heart leap! I hope we all take away life long lessons from this and don't soon forget what we are learning.

I don't know what I can do to help but I am going to start by donating blood.

Well, I've got to get back to work now. Thanks for reading my ramblings!

It was a strange thing walking in Lower Manhattan without the WTC. I couldn't tell you where the WTC was! I was so used to finding it by sight (how could you miss it?!) that I did not know which street it was on! All I knew was that if I walked south along the Hudson River I would eventually find it. Well, you couldn't get too far. That entire area is blocked off and guarded by NYC Police, NY State Troopers and the National Guard within at least a six block radius.

Lower Manhattan is a confusing place. The streets do not run perfectly north/south & east/west, like they do in Midtown. It is not a convenient grid pattern. Streets run in all directions and many intersect diagonally. I used to use the WTC to orient myself. I always knew where I was in relation to the World Trade Center. Not anymore!