My wife and I woke up at 6:00am Pacific time as we always do (that’s 3 hours behind NY). I turned on the TV to set up the VCR so Carol could record the afternoon’s Oprah Show just moments after the second plane hit the WTC. At first I thought it was a movie, but after turning the channel a few times I realized that it was real.

We take the train to work in Vancouver and caught it a t 6:50am Pacific (9:50am Eastern). It was a very somber ride. Lots of people talking about the disaster. We arrived in downtown Vancouver at 7:38am Pacific (10:38am Eastern). A teen on the bus to work from the train station told everyone that both towers of the WTC had collapsed. I almost called him a liar. I’m glad I didn’t.

When I arrived at 8:00am work I turned on the satellite TV we have here and was shocked by what I saw and heard. Everyone in the office gathered around the TV as they trickled in to work. There were tears and lots of specualtion and fear about what had happened.

The CEO’s sister had worked in WTC building # 7 but thankfully was here in Vancouver visiting. This made it a little more personal for us here. I’ll never forget that day as I’m sure many won’t.