I discovered your site just today. As destiny would have it, I had bid to be off over 9-11-01. A close friend based in FLA called me at 6.45am PT to alert me to the unfolding horrors, & to make sure I wasn't working one of the flts. Staffing for AA#11 & 77 is sometimes crewed by LAX & in fact, I had worked #77 IAD-LAX more than once over the previous few years. I also had worked a flt with Chic Burlingame (the Capt on 77 that fateful day). I remember being struck with how outgoing & affable he was. I admire his sister, Debra, for keeping the fight going for awareness & accountability (www.theaviationnation.com/debra-burlingame-biograpy).

When I left my place that morning for a long-awaited new-patient appt (the reason I had bid to be off that day), I found my neighbor in tears. As an East Coast transplant she was feeling the loss personally - with many relatives back there. As we commiserated, I told her "the world as we know it has changed forever". I had never felt such an overwhelming sadness.

I do not sweat the small stuff now. The industry in general, & our F/A jobs in particular have suffered greatly. I opted for a buyout in Aug 2008 &, being old enough, moved directly into retirement. I'm sorry I felt compelled to resign, & I wish things were different. But it's not the same job (well truthfully, that's been the case for many, many years), not the same business environment, hell - - not the same world.

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