Society for Aesthetic Deletions

1. Where were you and what was happening in your life the moment when you first became aware of what was happening at the World Trade Center in New York City last September 11th? What was the first thing you did when you heard the news?
I was going to blog about this tomorrow, actually.

I was in Warwick, Rhode Island, on the grounds of the Aldrich Mansion. Our office was having a retreat, you see. I was in my morning session, where we were talking about everyone's Meyers-Briggs analyses, and my cell phone rang. I answered it, knowing it would be Lou (the caller ID also told me so), and was quite curt with him. I walked away from my group to take the call.

The group was off-screen of this picture to the left. I walked to about where that van was, and over onto the brick patio, while I got upset at Lou for interrupting me from my morning session.

He was trying to ask me where our friend Jeanne worked, because a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I was shocked, apologized to him, and told him (I think) that she was okay, she didn't work in the Financial District. I said that I didn't have her contact numbers with me, but I did have another friend, Jack's, info, and he would most certainly have her details. I called him (though I think this happened later, but not much), and got him on his cell phone at work. He hadn't heard anything from her yet, but was going to keep trying.

I went back to my session, stunned, but had no idea it was a terrorist attack at this point. I told a friend and co-worker who was in the group with me what had happened, and he was shocked.

Not much later we stopped the sessions, and all gathered in by the TV to watch the news, or just stood around and comforted each other, offering cell phones for those who wanted/needed them.

Our New York City office is in the Financial District, just a few blocks from the WTC. I had been there in February 2001. There was even a very remote possibility I could have been in NYC on the 11th. But Kate, my boss, had told me that if she had to be at the Retreat, then I had to be at the Retreat, so there would be no trip (this was jokingly discussed back in August, as a way of helping work on their computer issues without the people in the office being there).

I distinctly remember seeing an airplane flying overhead (Warwick is the home of Green Airport in Rhode Island) as we were taking this all in. Suddenly, the straight contrail of the plane veered sharply. The plane was turning around. I was worried about that plane until much later, when I realized it had no doubt been told to land.

2. When those truly responsible for the attack are apprehended, what do you think would be the most fitting form of justice?
I don't think they'll ever be apprehended, as much as I hate to say it. But if we do find incontrovertable truth that says a person in custody did it, then I think we should kill them, and quickly. No fanfare, no torture. Just end it.

3. This will probably be much like when our parents respond to "Where were you when JFK was shot?"- an event never forgotten by those who were there. But how do you think the history books should present the 9-11 attacks? Should it be included for all future generations? How can we truly convey the shock, the outrage, the emotions and pain of that day to the children of our children?
We can't. Pictures come close, maybe even some moving stories. This needs to be remembered, like when JFK was shot, but it shouldn't be singled out to stand above all others. We need to deal, and move on, folks. Let's not dwell.

4. No one in that building, in the Pentagon, or on the planes (other than the terrorists) knew that 9-11 would be their last day to be alive. For me, it brought home the reality that I could be gone at anytime, without any warning. Now, I really want each day to have some value. Did the events of 9-11 bring about a change in the way you live your life?
No, not really. For a time I hugged my husband tighter, but we move on. We live. I've always known I could be gone at any time. I think it comes from having my father die suddenly the summer between my junior and senior years of high school. I've been there, I've done that. It's why I'm so much more pragmatic about death than Lou is, I think. He doesn't want to discuss it, while I'm...well, not morbid, just more realistic.

5. Several who loved to fly in planes will not step foot in one anymore. Many parents are more protective of their children. A year later, do you find yourself feeling more secure than back then? Or is it just a matter of time before something else happens?
I don't feel more secure. But I'm not letting it drive me crazy. It is a matter of time before something else happens ... America is not beloved by the rest of the world, people! While something of this magnitude will be difficult to pull off, something will happen. But we have to keep going.

6. The best way for me to honor the those impacted by the attack will be to refrain from any media that day. No papers, no radio and especially no television. Others will light candles, and others will attend special services. What, if anything, will you do to personally reflect on the tragedy?
I will answer the Monday Mission questions here, since I had planned to blog about a year ago and now it's kind of redundant. But I'm going to be making my Lifetime Weight Watchers goal tomorrow (pounds permitting), and then eating dinner at home with Lou. We'll probably watch a DVD, since the media is going to be going all out, and we're not interested.

Why couldn't NBC have done the rerun of West Wing called Isaac and Ishmael instead of whatever memorial thing they're planning?

7. One of the visuals that touched me the most were the walls and walls full of hand made "Missing" posters. What image will you always have in your mind when you recall the events of 9-11?
The first time I saw the video on the TV, in one of the rooms at the Mansion, of the second plane crashing into the building. That will stick with me for a long time.

BONUS: Who's gonna come around when you break?
I don't know, but who's going to drive you home tonight?