Where exactly were you 14 years ago when you learned of the events of 9-11 ?

[no_hypocrisy]

83. At home in NJ, drinking coffee, watching The Today Show, on the phone with my SIL.

The first plane hit. The Today Show had a special report. I told my sister-in-law what I saw on TV and remarked it was reminiscent of the plane that hit the Empire State Building in the Forties. We continued to talk. The second plane hit the WTC. E-mail messages began to flood my SIL's computer and she had to go. I continued to watch TV, glued and mesmerized.

About an hour later, when it was more obvious what had happened, I joined a number of people in my town who had gathered at a public park. That park was on elevated ground and we could see the black plume of smoke that issued from the WTC. We spoke in murmurs when we spoke at all.

I went to work. My co-worker was concerned that she couldn't reach her daughter because cell service had been interrupted.

As horrible and surreal Tuesday/9-11 was, the aftermath continued to be pretty bad for me. First, the pervasive societal fear was more than palpable. You got the feeling everyone was getting ready for another surprise attack. Four days after 9-11, I drove across the George Washington Bridge at 9:00 a.m. and it was deserted. Maybe three other cars on the upper level. THAT was scary.

And ten days later, I discovered that a classmate from kindergarten to senior year high school died on 9-11 when I was watching CBS's "Sunday Morning" when his face filled my screen.

I wouldn't say that I've been traumatized, but this date will be indelible to me.