While I was taking a shower, my phone rang three times:
1) Dad
2) Ex husband
3) Uncle Steve in New York
The last one was the first message I heard on September 11, 2001. Uncle Steve, unable to reach anyone locally decided to call me and let me know that he was OK, but that he'd appreciate it if I got the message out to everyone else in the family. What followed was a very long day for many Americans ending in some mourning lost family members.
At the time, I was in charge of training executives from Europe who ended up stranded in the states, was an ESL teacher for interns from Germany, and had family in both DC and New York. Many frantic calls were made that day to find housing for those stuck in the states, make sure everyone was OK in the family, and to cope with the feelings of anger that arise from terror attacks.
And it was quiet. SOOOO quiet. You don't realize how much sound comes to a city from the air until the planes are gone.
Kirk said at the next Sauce practice, "They awoke the hidden dragon."
I never could come up with words to communicate all the emotions of this time, but I did write a song - my only instrumental. I hope you enjoy it.