I have a rule with Mom X. Don't call me before 10 a.m. unless it's critical. I like my sleep. When my phone rang at 6:50 a.m. on September 11, 2001, I knew something bad had happened. All I remember her saying was "Don't go to work today." Everything after that was a blur. I turned on CNBC and just couldn't believe what I was seeing.
My anxiety, fear and pain was heightened by the fact that my company (a SF-based investment bank) had an office in Tower 2. My old client had probably 10 floors (if not more) in Tower 1. And I sat there watching TV, helpless. I wondered whether Whitney was ok. What about Melissa or any of the other people I knew?
Every September 11, I have a little chat with Whitney and tell him I'm glad he made it out ok. Luckily for him and the rest of my former coworkers, their office was on the 3rd floor so they all walked downstairs to safety. I know Melissa made it out ok too (Google search). I wish I could say the same for everyone who worked at Cantor Fitzgerald. Or a research analyst named Dean Eberling who covered my former client.
It was a sad day that no one ever wants to see again. But it's not the lead story today on any of the morning shows. For some reason, the news today is focused on whether "lipstick on a pig" is offensive. The only thing that's offensive is that the Presidential candidates and the media are focused on this at all.
1 comment:
Absolutely. Polarization, lack of civility and misplaced values are rampant. You get the feeling that it is not the candidates but rather their minions, particularly the furtherest out, who are at fault. No way to muzzle them. As with religion, with God on their side, anything is justified.
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