This won’t be a long post. We all have our own thoughts and memories of that horrible, horrible day seven years ago. I captured mine in an essay shortly after to be sure I’d always remember.
What got me, though, was yesterday. Last night actually. A late-day e-mail from a client that resulted in him scheduling a meeting for today. For 10:00 a.m. Just about the time, seven years ago, when the world changed forever.
My first thought: I didn’t want to be on a conference call at this time. I wanted to be free to think about things.
But, duty called. The call went fine. It was nice to talk with my colleagues. I got my assignment. No one mentioned 9/11.
Even more striking: My clients are in New York City. Their company was in a building in the Trade Center complex seven years ago. Everyone had to evacuate that day, and the company soon relocated to a new office. I think their old building may have even been damaged so much it had to be torn down.
Yet, here we all were, seven years later. Having a meeting. Doing business. Making money. Living the free, capitalist, enterprising dream the terrorists wanted — and still want — so desperately to destroy.
Take that, you bastards.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
~ Laurence Binyon (quoted by Rudy Giuliani
in his 9/11 tribute speech today)
Writing by Ear 