my thoughts...      9-11   Remembrance              Eight years later and certainly this date will always bring a chill to us in the America.              Perhaps, it was a wake-up call. That we, in this country, are also   vulnerable to the the insanity that can invade all of our lives.When the South tower of the World Trade Center collapsed I lost an friend from college.        Christopher Quackenbush,             (his office was on the 102^nd floor).  Many others were lost and not only Americans, but from many other countries.  He was a very accomplished businessman and father, in his forties.         Later, an October 2001 issue of Fortune magazine (writing of the initial business recovery after the attack) had his and his late business partner also killed that morning were pictured on the magazine’s cover.Despite his successes (his net was worth was in the tens of millions of dollars) he was the most normal, good natured generous and regular guy you could come across.  Chris often remarked how he could not undarstand how lucky he was and how he had the good people and events that came into his life.   

                  People who Chris understood how this had happened: he was talented, worked extremely hard – but most of all he was a good man.  (Lucky? Maybe so, but perhaps when you are a good person it comes back to you).                                Most, looking in would say he had it all!     And yet it all can end in an instant, an instant act that seemingly had no   connection to you.     Why do these things occur?      Why do we lose the people who warm the world?                           I am sure I will never know the answer.

I am certain Chris would agree that we should all live our lives to the fullest no matter our current station,     Everyday,                 you can make a difference!              And life is fleeting….                                Stop the madness     Recognize your blessings           Hug someone when you can                    Be kind to your brothers and sisters                                                                        Take a step forward -  into the light  

sorry that you lost your friend god bless em I have talked to friends and ask them what they were doing on that day and I agree with them -- it's like the day was in slo-mo they can tell you word for word blow by blow of how their day went. and their eyes as well as mine were glued to the television. what a day that was I must say for me as well. Anyone that has been atop of the world trade observatory -- can relate what if this was the day that I was up there. I have more thoughts about this but don't want to take up all of your forum -- great words they are heartfelt -- thx for the rememberance )

GF : thanks for the shared thoughts Yeah, that whole day I couldn't get my head around the possibility that those two enormous buildings could colapse like that. I remember before knowing personal loss- in the first days after that I felt relief that a much higher number of people had not been victums. In spite of the event I think of the buildings in a good light , involving good times in the past.

And if you have more to say ---I welcome it and encourageit too!

Whether its here or some other place and time. BTW: that was one uplifting experience- friends and strangers in the days after, were more sharing and sensed we all share commen interests.

I had dinner late night 9-11-09 with his brother and others and we were commenting about how many good thing we knew or had tried to do do give back as a result of that day...may we keep it going....