I want to honor a worthy soul who died 9/11/01

[pat_k]

Ed Felt, a colleague at BEA (bought by Oracle in 2008), died on flight 93. Commuting between the NJ office and headquarters in San Jose via UA 93 was common. It was devastating when the news hit the office and fears that "one of us" might be onboard were confirmed.

Ed was the technology director. A brilliant software engineer who exuded warmth and authenticity. He was one of the people who interviewed me when I went from being a contractor to an employee. Throughout the year before his death, I was often amazed at how generous he was with his time when our folks (technical writing) needed information.

Ed learned to play piano to help his daughter when she began taking lessons. Linus and Lucy became a family favorite. Another colleague played it at our office memorial service. I still tear up when I hear that tune.

I know it is available online, but I've never had the heart to listen to the call he made to 911. I know it was only 70 seconds long, but provided crucial information about the situation. And through their calls, he and other passengers learned about the WTC and Pentagon attacks -- knowledge that inspired them to act.

The memory of getting the devasting news, the hugs and tears, and of going to a co-workers house where we watched the unfolding coverage is still so vivid. I had played "tour guide" to friends earlier that year and my knowledge of the number of people -- over 200.000 -- who passed through the WTC every day, made the horror and shock of seeing the WTC collapse on live TV the worst feeling I have ever experienced.

At the time, I lived in Westfield, NJ. That town lost four people in the WTC attack, and many, many more in town lost people they knew.

What is strongest in my memory is the immediate aftermath. The coming together. The mourning. The sharing of such deeply connecting emotions with so many.

It made the ugliness that followed somehow even more awful to witness. The Islamophobia. The profiling. It was as if the "coming together" was being erased in the name of "homeland security."

Heartbreaking.

[pat_k]

1. Image I found of Ed and his family

[electric_blue68]

4. Sweet photo.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Awww! What a lovely family! And those poor kids...

Thank you for sharing this generous and brave man with us...

[Danmel]

2. What a lovely tribute to your friend

Sweet memories 💕

[littlemissmartypants]

3. It's such a difficult time to remember that so many avoid reminiscing.

Thank you so much for sharing this and showing us how valuable it is to remember the most difficult events in our lives because when we honor others, like you so poignantly do here, we also heal.

💧❤️

[FemDemERA]

5. Thank you for sharing and

For honoring your friend.

So many lives lost. So many injured. So many first responders suffering long term effects. So many families still hurting. It’s good to share the stories of who the people were and to honor the memories.

[electric_blue68]

6. A lovely tribute to your smart, and kind friend.

And to know he was on flight 93! Only you can decide if you ever feel up to listening to his call. Do whatever feels right for you.

Woah, having been "tour guide" for your company's people here made it all the more painful. Of course, there were people all over the country, and internationally who suffered losses, but the NY/NJ/CN Tri-State saw the most.

Eta I knew I forgot something. Where I lived in Brooklyn we had a bunch of Arab-American shop keepers. 9-11 didn't change my interactions with them - I tend to be friendly to people. Maybe a little more solititous to them so they knew.I didn't harbor any ill will towards them.

[pat_k]

13. It was actually visiting friends I had escorted around NYC.

In the years I lived there, I had never really given the WTC complex much thought. When we did the tour, I was just as much a "tourist" as my friends.

It was really quite mind-blowing. Almost an entire city within the city. Those memories were fresh in my mind when I heard the news of the first plane hitting the North Tower on my car radio as I arrived at work. All I could think was "The people. All those people. OMG."

At work, everyone was gathered around a TV someone had set up and we witnessed the second plane hit. And then the news of the hijacking of flight 93. And then confirmation that Ed had booked a last minute flight on that plane. And then the pentagon news. It all unfolded so, so fast. The order of events at the office is sort of a blur.

One of our little group of tech writers lived less than five minutes away. Her husband was still at home and called her and a little group of us headed over there with her. We were glued to the TV as her husband filled us in on what had been reported in the few minutes before we got there. And then the shock of that first tower collapse while sitting in that living room. My mind was in this tape loop "The people. All those people..." as the horror and my image of the numbers lost expanded exponentially with the collapse.

Just as that horror sort of sank in, and we were all sort of processing it. It seemed like everyone was acquainted with someone who worked or frequently did business at the WTC. And then the news of flight 93. There were vague hopes that maybe Ed had missed the flight, but I think we knew if he had we would have heard by then. That period between the collapse of the first and second building is vague too. But the shock of the collapse of the second building is as burned in my mind as the shock of seeing the first. And the tape loop in my head continued. "OMG. Ed. OMG. All those people. The people...."

[electric_blue68]

15. Right, sorry. You toured your friends to the WTC, and Ed was your work colleague.

I returned at home since I didn't make it into Manhattan from Brooklyn bc of it , the roommate stayed in her room. I listened to public radio all day, and evening. Finally turned on the TV late, and watched what a lot of people saw earlier.

I did get a call from my sister early afternoon. Hher small company, they went to their bosses's apt near by to watch the rest unfold . To me, at least, you had people to react with...especially with such horrific news about your colleague Ed.

Anyway, on a happier note, for years while TheTowers were up the underground shopping mall was a great place to go bc it had so many good stores in one place. Even a good bookstore! And you didn't have to tromp around in bad weather, bc you could take the subway, walk underground right into the complex. Useful, and fun!

[VanMilder]

7. my condolences to you and to those who knew and loved him

and thank you for sharing this sketch of the man you knew

[NNadir]

8. Thank you for the reminder of the human cost. I also knew some victims, albeit far more remotely. My cousins...

...who worked downtown, in buildings nearby, were not injured but were covered by dust as they walked out of Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge.

[pat_k]

14. So many made that journey.

[True Dough]

10. Well written, pat_k

I caught this video yesterday, which shares some of the same sentiment that you're expressing. There are many difference between your story and his, but some important parallels too.

&list=PLXogyDttQUbAAb1qwVgwL6hBPUoZD9_w5

[pat_k]

12. Thank you for sharing this.

[Clouds Passing]

11. Ed