I know it’s been a little over a week since the events, but it took reading today’s atomic dog, Dave Draper’s newsletter, and finally the letter to T-mag’s reader mail by a NYC police sergent for it to truly hit home. I actually cried. I live in NYC and it’s been scary and I’ve been more worried for my brother, who I had to rush down to his school and see if he was ok. He’s not that close to the disaster, but being only 12 blocks away, he was close enough to see everything happen. From seeing the first plane circle and crash up to the collapse. Getting down to Houston street, just looking where the towers were, seeing that ominous, billowing cloud of dust and decimated buildings, it was horrifying. I couldn’t even imagine how my brother is feeling. I think he’s ok, but it’s really hitting me today. There is nothing I could do to protect him from witnessing this atrocity. There was nothing anyone could do. There are heros but no superheros. There is no Superman that could have flown in at supersonic speeds and caught the jets just before they crashed into the buildings. No Batman to have figured out this plot that could have been devised by Ra’s al Goul to cleanse the planet, as these extremists want to do.
There are heros, but they have paid the ultimate price. The police and firefighters of the city that, while saving people and securing the area, lost their lives when these massive 110 story buildings just collapsed under it’s own weight. People who get paid very little to risk their lives to protect and save us actually lost their lives. So, this past weekend I decided to actually get off my ass and take action. I went to the Marine recruiter’s office to find out how soon I can get in. So all I have to do is lose ten pounds (already lost 5) and come back and I can sign up. It doesn’t make up for what has happened but I’ve always wanted to be a hero, make a difference. Now’s my chance. Thank you for letting me rant.