Seven years ago I was almost in one of the Twin Towers.  Seven years ago I could have been there in the morning.  Seven years ago I could have died.

The NY Port Authority has been a customer of mine for ages.  Back in September of 2001 I was due to visit another customer on the 12th.  I often fly in a day early if I've got more than one customer in town, so I could have very well decided to fly into NY a day early and visit the NYPA in their office in the WTC.  I usually visit them in the morning, so on the 11th, I would have probably been heading into the buildings just as it all started.

For some reason, I didn't fly in a day early.  Instead I was riveted to the television watching it all unfold.  As the towers fell, I remember crying a primal cry...the sort of thing you read about...but never really hear.  I wasn't thinking about the thousands dying.  I was thinking of my two friends in the tower.

They both lived.

One was on vacation, the other got out.

I'd been out to visit them in July. When I was there we had a fire drill and I was standing in the lobby talking with Bert.  "I was here in '93 for the blast, and I sure I hope I don't have to go through that again!" Bert said.  His words have stayed with me to this day.

I do, though, still think of what it would have been like if I'd gone in a day early.  I'm glad I'll never know.