There are moments in our lives that become etched into eternal memory. No time, space or circumstance removes the feeling and the intensity that something has in fact touched our soul.
It was on this day in 2001 that I could see the twin towers in the distance burning as I tried frantically to call my wife to tell her I was alright. I became angry and frustrated that I couldn’t get a call out since the network was flooded.Then something rather profound happened. I looked at the towers and came to the realization that at that very moment, someone else was trying to make a very important call too. One to say “I love you” for the last time and to say goodbye. I can’t begin to describe what that felt like, but I remember grabbing onto to a railing so I didn’t faint.
I was stuck in NJ because of the attacks and couldn’t get back home again until the next evening. My wife suggested that we divide and conquer and that she would sleep in with my daughter and I would bunk in with the boys. Before going to bed that night my son Nicholas who was 5 at the time asked if we could say a prayer for those in the towers. He began to systematically ask that not only everyone in the towers be blessed, their families, their pets, their neighbors, their ancestors, their future lineage and went on for what seemed to be an endless loop until my son Paul hit his boiling point and said “NICKY! . . . God’s got the point! Call it nerves, tension or simply part of the grieving process, but we were able to laugh and I remember how good it felt to be able to do that again!
We tried to sit down more as a family at meal time
We did our best to get back to our house of worship
Lots of flags proudly displayed even as lapel pins (note to self to get back to this)
We remembered to tell people how we felt about them
We looked at Police Officers and Firefighters differently
And let us not forget those who continually fight for our freedom and who have paid the ultimate price for us! We started thanking them for their service more than ever!
We began, if even for a brief moment, to balance and understand the fragility of this thing we call life!
So I’m sorry to say that today’s blog is NOT about sales. It’s simply a wake up call for all of us to appreciate, respect, reflect and learn from the journey we have all taken since September 11th.
With respect and appreciation to all my readers
Paul Castain
