September 11, 2001

Ground Zero, Spring 2002

On September 11, 2001, I was living and working in Baltimore, Maryland.  I was the Medical Coordinator for a non-profit program providing community living to developmentally disabled adults.  As the attacks of terrorism unfolded that morning, it was the mission of my co-workers and myself to make contact with our house managers and get them to the homes in time to be there when the day program busses arrive to deliver our clients.  The day programs were closing and transporting everyone to their homes as soon as they could.  My husband was leaving work and would be home when our sons arrived early from school.  He wanted me to leave right away and come home.  Looking back, I realize that the events of that day did not feel real to me.  I did not feel panic.  I realized that I was completely powerless over the terrorist attacks.  At home that evening, we felt a strong urge to get out of the house and be with others.  We got in the car without knowing where we were going and ended up at the Inner Harbor where others had begun to gather.  We huddled together with candles, talking and praying for all of the victims, survivors, their families and the first responders.  We ended up holding hands in a circle singing and praying and the thing that has stuck in my mind since that day is that the group was composed of people of different races, religions, age, political affiliations, and many of the other labels that divide us, yet at that moment it was all stripped away.  I saw a homeless man holding hands with a very well dressed businessman without judgement and revulsion and there were no words for what we were all feeling.  If only we could truly remember the lessons learned during such tragic times and know that so much was accomplished as people worked together doing whatever they could to be of help for the common good.  So many acts of heroism, bravery and kindness that happened without hesitation.  In my lifetime I saw the most evil that man can do and the most selfless man can do on the same day.  I wish it didn't take a tragedy of that magnitude to bring us all together in such a strong sense of community.