Every year since 9/11, I light a memorial candle in memory of all the lives lost, in honor of the brave men and women who served, and in support of all those who continue to hurt and suffer.
I lived in NYC and was asked to work an assignment in the north tower that day. I was unavailable. A colleague, Tom from Philadelphia, who I didn’t know took the assignment. He was in an internal conference room and died that day.
Most of all I remember the selfless acts of courage, bravery and compassion. I remember working on a boat serving the rescue workers. I remember the smell, the noise, and ‘the pile’. No one complained. No one argued.
I’ll never forget the smell. I’ll never forget seeing the devastation up close. I volunteered on a barge docked at the boat slips near The Winter Garden. I was quite near the pit, feeding and comforting the rescue workers. Everyone, almost everyone, was working in support of each other. Doing our best to feed and comfort those working on ‘the pile’ and those supporting them. It was beyond stressful. I was also on clean up duty; mopping the kitchen floors and taking out the trash. I took a break on deck to chat with some of the first responders and was yelled at by one of the chefs for taking a break. I was taken aback, I cried a little, and went back to work. It was hard for everyone.
Then I worked with the lower Manhattan business rebuilding initiative; helping displaced businesses get back on their feet. It was the only way for me to get through the tragedy.
I also experienced a bit of post traumatic stress a few months afterwards – agoraphobia – afraid to leave my UWS neighborhood and go on the subway. It lasted about a month. To this day, I carry a small pouch inside my bag of essential comfort items.
In loving memory and remembrance….
Never forget.
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