We had come in early from an install and were sitting in the break room trying to relax. The TV burped and we saw an image of a building burning and were just too tired to recognize it. Once it was identified and they started talking about a commuter plane; we thought we were looking at a terrible accident. When the second plane hit, all of us knew someone was after us but we didn't know who.

The sales staff started coming in a few minutes later and headed right for the TV. Everybody canceled their appointments and just sat there trying to take it in. I remember when the first Tower collapsed and the man with Peter Jennings said, "Peter, I believe one of the Towers is in some distress." Jennings turned around and you could see the back of his head shake like he was having a chill.

It was reminiscent of the Kennedy Assassination; we all wanted to do something but there was nothing within our collective grasp that would have made an ounce of difference. The worst part of it was watching the scenes from St. Vincents hospital where the Surgeons were lined up to take in the injured. There weren't any injured to speak of and you could see the rage in the Doctor's faces as the hours went by; there was so little they could do.

I was too old to fight, but I would have traded the rest of my life to close with the enemy for ten minutes. I still feel that way.

A155MM