10/19/2026
The 9/11 anniversary brought a lot of memories back this year, so I wanted to share mine.
What people forget is how fast the world locked up. Immediately after, planes were grounded, airports shut down, and thousands of people were stranded far from home with no way back. Families visiting relatives overseas, travelers stuck in countries they planned to be in for a week, people who couldn’t get a straight answer from anyone.
A lot of them called me. Moving people through unfamiliar countries, finding a way when the normal ways are closed, and staying calm while everyone around you panics is a big part of my job. In the days after, it was the whole job.
But the people I thought about most were the families of the first responders. My dad was a fireman for over 30 years in California. Not FDNY, but I knew what those kids were going through. We worried every time Dad went out on a big fire. I put myself in those children’s place and wrote this for them.
A FIREMAN’S SON
They say my Daddy is a hero I always thought so too
He goes to work and isn’t scared no matter what he has to do
Mom and I stay home and pray for Dad and all his team
Late at night we snuggle close
so I won’t have bad dreams
And tho we’re scared for Daddy’s life he tells us all the time
Just say those prayers for all of us and we will all be fine
So Daddy goes to fight the fire and tries to save some lives
I tell my Mom that it’s OK
but still sometimes she cries
They say my Daddy is a hero
and we should both be strong
I’m not sure why he hasn’t called but I know it won’t be long
Someone said a plane had crashed and buildings caught on fire
Then they said some firemen died, but I just called them liars
Mommy tries to talk to me
but she always seems so sad
So Uncle Bill came by today and what he said was bad
Daddy tried to save some people by running up the stairs
But Daddy does that all the time cuz that’s how much he cares
I have to understand they say
if Daddy can’t come home
But why would he go visit God and leave us all alone
The yard is filled with flowers
the phone rings all the time
Our Hero won’t be home Mom says, he’s now on God’s front line.
9/14/01