as seen at www.catch.com...

Not being a news junkie (or even a part time news follower, really) the first I heard of the attack was when I got into work that morning. A co-worker who basically cannot speak without trying to make a bad pun made some "joke" about the "crashes on Wall Street". I just couldn't understand wtf he was talking about until I got to my desk and was able to see the coverage.

Our CEO had already sent out a message that, basically, this was not a day to be at work --- so after calling the few people I knew in NY to make sure they were OK I started calling employees and letting them know that coming in to the office was optional, and offering whatever assistance they might need.

My first trip outside the UK was to New York, I met my first wife and we got married there. It's one of the most wonderful cities I've ever seen (yeah, yeah - I've not seen many, shut up). The attacks were shocking, awful, repellent.

That said, I grew up in a country where "terrorist" attacks were common if not quite everyday (hell, I almost had a small role in a movie about the infamous horse guard bombing) - so I don't think I was quite as "How could this ever happen here?" as most folks were. I was somewhat stunned by the immediate need to "strike back" at someone - anyone - as some form of cathartic process.

Watching later the "shock and awe" of Iraq I felt ashamed - a bully who couldn't stand up to his real enemy was instead turning his ire on a defenseless, mostly innocent population.

I didn't lose anyone I knew in the twin towers attack, I didn't lose anyone I knew in Iraq, I didn't know any of the troops we've lost there. I miss them all like a lead weight in my soul.