9-11

[OhioHusker43065]

In honor of the day, just a little recollection of the days leading up to it.  Went to the ND game with a lifelong friend who happens to be a rabid ND fan.  Our flight to Lincoln was cancelled on Friday night because of storms.  After everyone was screaming at the ticketing agent, I went up, thanked her, said I know you don't control the weather and could she get us to Lincoln by 3 or so the next day.  "How about first class through Denver tomorrow morning?"  Yeah, that will work.  So instead of waking up in a hotel room in Lincoln, I was having a vodka orange juice and a nice breakfast.  On the plane ride from Denver to Lincoln I sat across the aisle from who I would later realize was Hiloti Ngata.  Made it to the game with plenty to spare and had a great time.  Of course the Huskers won, but folks were really classy to my buddy.

Thunderstorms around Chicago delayed our flight home for about 8 hours, but when we finally got a flight to Columbus it was with the US Women's soccer team.  Some foxy ladies.  While very pretty, Mia Hamm is much shorter than I imagined.  They were supposed to play an exhibition game in Columbus on 9-11 or 12, can't recall.   

Regardless, about 36 hours after landing in Columbus the world changed. 

[SCVHusker]

Like the Kennedy assassination one can not forget where we were and what we were doing on that fateful day.  As a Californian I got my information pretty much after everything had already happened.  It was mind boggling.

[OhioHusker43065]

Like the Kennedy assassination one can not forget where we were and what we were doing on that fateful day.  As a Californian I got my information pretty much after everything had already happened.  It was mind boggling.

Was at a meeting out of town and got a call from my wife who said she heard on the Howard Stern show that a plane hit the WTC.  Walked into the hotel bar where the meeting was at as the tv was on and saw the second plane hit.  What a terrible day.  It's amazing how two days earlier you could be having a great time at a football game and then get that national shot to the juevos.

[tfree32]

I was on my way home from work...I was working overnights as a Personal Banker on the phones and internet. I heard on the radio that a plane had hit the WTC towers and kind of rolled my eyes at the news. There had been a number of incidents around that time where private pilots in little one person planes had been hitting buildings, getting stuck, etc. So I assumed that was what they were talking about. Then I got home and turned the TV on and saw the reality. What a sad and horrible day. But the response to that tragedy reinforced what it means to be an American. As always, adversity builds character...and the history of this nation is one of overcoming challenges and tragedies and emerging stronger on the other end. It's in our blood and part of our collective consciousness. It's who we are.

I'd intentionally avoided thinking about 9/11 today, as the thoughts of those victims leaping off the burning building and heroes fighting off terrorists on a doomed flight and trudging up flights of stairs in a burning building to save the lives of innocents make me emotional. But it's important that we never forget and that we honor the heroes who so exemplified everything that makes this country great.