story11336.xml

story11336.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2005-03-13

I was in the locker room of the local YMCA,getting ready for my morning workout, and a man called everyone over to the television. I watched CNN as the second plane hit the South Tower, and decided I'd better head home and wait for the call. I was trained as a critical incident counselor, working for an international crisis response organization and volunteering for the Red Cross, and I spent much of the next three months counseling families and survivors.

The people of New York didn't feel what the terrorists wanted them to feel. The predominant emotion I found in New York in the months after 9/11 was not fear or even anger. I found only a profound grief, and deep compassion for those who were still in the buildings when they came tumbling down. I found love.