The memories, feelings and events from that week never fade, nor should they. I can vividly still feel the shock, the outrage and the surreal feel that life as we had known it had somehow shifted.
Snapshots of that week that are embedded in my thoughts...
...The eerie feel and absolute quiet of airports full of scared stranded passengers far from home and worried about loved ones, not knowing what would happen next or if more terror was to come. The sight of an empty sky with no planes flying other than military jets zooming overhead on patrol. The empty eyes of people filling chairs or slumped to the floor, saying nothing. The panic I felt deep inside at being away from my kids with no way to get back home until they let us back in the air, yet at the same time the thought of flying in what had now been turned into a weapon was terrifying. Knowing that I had to be professional for others until I could finally feel safe at home, hug my family and then be able to fall apart in private and grieve for all that was lost that day and not feeling strong enough to do it..yet I managed. All of the emotions I felt putting this together a few years ago are still fresh, yet muted with time.
We lost more than precious lives on that clear morning...in many ways we lost our innocence and naivety.
We are not invincible nor untouchable..
I, for one..will never forget that fact.
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