Five years.
Five years ago right now I had been in my office at CryptoLogic and begun my morning routine of reading news sites and message board pertaining to my job, including CANOE.ca and CNN.com. I had the sites up when Ken ran in the office to ask if I had them open and I said yes. He mentioned a plane was in the World Trade Center and that most major websites were crashed. People began crowding around my computer to see the only available picture we had of a single plane in the tower. I turned on my radio and we began to listen.
I remember not knowing the extent of what was happening, and wondering if being on the 7th floor of a Toronto office tower put me in danger of some massive North American terrorist attack. My wife’s former employer, Kroll, were one of few companies that refused to allow their employees to leave early, and Mary and I had carpooled that day, so I ended up being one of only a few people left at Crypto when the closing hour came. And the city was dead. I’d never freely walked across Yonge Street at 5PM in my life, it was like the scene at the end of The Devil’s Advocate where Keanu Reeves roams into an empty New York City.
Four years ago my tribute to 9/11 drew criticism from readers who wished we would express the same compassion for victims worldwide. I understand the aftermath of 9/11 is also questionable to many. However, regardless of the state of our world, nothing can take away what was without question the harshest terrorist attack on North American soil in my lifetime. It changed all of our lives, and I know we’ll never forget.
Those of you who do wish to relive my Ground Zero visit in November of 2001 are more than welcome to click here.