There are some things that happen in our lives that will always stick with us—that touch our souls. You know exactly where you were and what you were doing when they happened.  For me these times were the JFK assassination, the first moon landing, the death of John Lennon, the Challenger catastrophe, and, of course, 9/11.

How do you remember 9/11?

This is how I remember.

It was a regular hectic Tuesday morning around our office. I’m actually at the same company that I was back then except in a different role. I was the Direct Marketing Manager at the time and was getting ready for our weekly Tuesday 10:00 a.m. marketing meeting.  This was the busiest time of the week for me, as I needed to get the agenda together, get the results of the past week’s efforts, etc. for the meeting.

I was walking by the office of one of my co-workers when she called me into her office. I remember her pointing to her computer monitor which showed the first plane had just crashed into the tower. I looked at it and, being pre-9/11, just figured it was an accident. I actually thought that it was a small private plane and that someone lost control. I went back to my running around in preparation for the meeting.

Next I heard her say that another plane just crashed. In disbelief, I went to her monitor again and, seeing it with my own eyes,  knew that our lives would never be the same. It all became surreal at this point.

Not long after, the 9/11 disaster became very personal for me. It was being reported that there was a United Airlines plane on its way to Pennsylvania that was not communicating to air traffic control. My son was a student at Villanova at the time and, even though the chances that he was in danger were slim to nil, I am a mom and I was frantic. I drove home feeling a pit in my stomach and glued myself to the TV. The images I was seeing were more horrific than anything I’d ever imagined.  I needed to do something to help.

9/11 was the first day in my life I donated blood. I called up a local hospital and they told me to come down. What I found when I got there was a room full of people who were just like me - dazed and confused and needing to do something to help.

My memory is really fuzzy after that. I don’t remember when I found out that Jeff was okay. I just remember not being able to stop watching the TV and the horror of it all. I think that our body knows how much it can take and shuts down. Some call it shock. I call it self-preservation.

My heart goes out to all who have lost loved ones on 9/11 and those who have had health issues arising from the catastrophe. Thank you to all of the firefighters, police, and first responders who risked their lives and lost their lives on that day. Also to the general public who took it upon themselves to act unselfishly to help others. Although it is a horrible time for the United States and its citizens. It is also a moment for which we should be most proud.

We will never forget.