8 years on

8 years ago, I can still vividly remember Joel waking me up at about 11:15pm
saying 'A bomb hit New York'. Wearily, I stumbled out to the lounge to watch
the coverage, thinking it was some sort of stunt, a joke, a sci-fi movie. We
watched in increasing horror as the second plane hit the other world tower,
and by the time the next plane had hit the pentagon, we were both thinking
'here comes world war 3'.

We stayed up most of the night, watching in horror, disbelief and open grief
whilst the tragedy that struck New York, Washington, America, indeed the
World unfolded. My thoughts went out to all those in the line of fire, all
those who would be affected by this.

My heart skipped a beat when I realised my mother was overseas, on holiday,
unreachable (in the days ahead I paid a small fortune in phone calls trying
to track her down - I found her in France). And then another as I realised a
great friend was actually in the air, flying back from Sydney to NY at the
time (she was diverted to LA and couldn't get home - nor even call her
husband - for 3 more days) .

Everyone stumbled into work the next day, sleepless, shocked. People
desperately tried to contact their loved ones not only in the USA but around
the world. Work allowed the use of the busines phones to do it, they didn't
really have a choice - although most of the lines were down and the ones
that weren't were so overload, it could take *hours* to get through to a US
operator, and even then it didn't mean the call could go through. There was
a constant vigil of at least a handful of people in the conference room,
watchign the only TV we have here, coming out after a while white and
shaken, no longer physically able to watch any more. For the first time, I
saw my colleagues, both men & women, openly weep.

Friends gathered to console and support each other - everyone, and I mean
*everyone* I know, knew someone who knew someone that was directly effected.

The internet connections were flakey at best, but messages of support and
friendship were posted, as well as a 'please check in' for those who had
been disconnected. It took a very long time, even over here, for it to stop
being at the top of people's minds. Even a month later, I saw a low-flying
jet and immediately had flash-backs, had a moment stricken with fear. I
hadn't realised I was so close to the airport.

8 years on, its no longer front page news every day, but the consequences of
that senseless act still reverberate around the world, effecting lives every
day, every minute. To all those who live with the heartache and grief of
that terrible day, as well as the incredible acts of heroism and sacrifice,
you have not been forgotten. Our purrs and prayers go out to you..

lest we forget.

Yowie