The first thing I did on 9/11 was call my husband and tell him to come home. The second thing I did was pick up the kids. I left so fast I was still barefoot when I got to the school. The third thing I did was go to an ATM and take out a lot of cash. The fourth thing I did was go to Costco and buy food, water, flashlights, batteries,candles, matches, Sterno, cat food, dog food, toilet paper.
One of the reasons I moved my office to my home was so I could get the kids if need be. They have been instructed where to wait for me unless I've told them that I won't be anywhere near home during the day.
Most families around here, as you know, don't have that flexibility.
I have let my routine lapse. I no longer have a stash of cash in the house, I no longer have extra bags and boxes of cat food, dog food, toilet paper, etc.
Sometimes I think that it was people like me stocking up on many months worth of supplies that got us out of the 9/11 recession.
There was a moment in the almost empty Costco I'll never forget, three or four other people pushing the extra large carts, stocking up on necessities, with thoughtful expressions, and looking at each other and recognizing kindred spirits. The crowds were still home watching TV. |
