It seems that every generation has their own “where were you when _____ happened” event.  For my dad it was John F. Kennedy being shot.  Prior to that it may have been the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor.  For my generation it is definitely the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.  (OJ in the white Bronco and Princess Diana both register but neither had nearly the impact on my life.)

I find it so interesting to hear other peoples’ stories of where they were and what they did so here’s mine.

On September 11, 2001 I was working at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited in Mississauga.  I was listening to Howard Stern on my commute to Toronto from Belleville when he started talking about a plane crashing into the WTC tower.  In my mind it was a little two or four seater and an interesting news story but when Howard, all of a sudden, started going crazy about a second plane crashing into the other tower I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing.  I was an avid Stern fan at the time so it took me a while to realize that he was serious, especially since no one on any other radio station was saying anything about the crashes.  When I realized it was serious and that these weren’t accidents it actually made me angry that the other stations were continuing to gleefully play music, either ignorant or in denial of what was going on.  Of course, had they come on and said that terrorist attacks were taking place all over American skies, the chaos may have been worse.

Instead of going to work I drove straight past the office and went to East Side Mario’s (a restaurant/bar) because I knew they’d have televisions (and I was sufficiently late for work that the place would be open).  I was still struck by how little people seemed to be reacting to the attacks.  It wasn’t until the first tower collapsed that people really stopped what they were doing and took notice.

I didn’t ever end up at work that day.  My boss was annoyed but understood.  I spent the day in the company of strangers, worried about my friends in the States, and very confused about the future.  I can’t say the future is any more clear now but I do hold my friends closer.

My heart goes out to all of the families of the victims of the attacks, as well as to anyone else who has lost a loved one too soon.

By the way, I know they’re rebuilding but I think the two lights beaming to the heavens are a moving and striking sight to behold.  You really can’t see them and not stop to take it all in.