It was the final day of the OAR (Ohio Association of Realtors) Convention here in Cincinnati when our continuing education seminar was interrupted by the unbelievable news of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Towers. We were numb with disbelief and horror, some of us cried then and many times thruout the following days. Anyone with a cell phone immediately made calls to check on their loved ones, and some of the attendees couldn't continue with that day's "business as usual" and left the conference. Then we heard about the Pentagon - more shock and disbelief - someone brought in a small black & white television and we had to believe it because we were seeing it on screen with our own eyes.

A lot of us stayed to finish the class since there obviously wasn't anything we could do at the moment; many planned to bail out early at lunchtime. It was very hard to pay attention to anything that was said by the instructors - I hope I took good notes, because at this point I can hardly remember what the topic was.

A large TV was brought out and everyone thronged around to hear the latest. People tried to comfort one another, a hug between friends, an understanding comment - but the events were overwhelming and mind numbing that this could happen to us - to the U.S.!! I thought about how the nation had respondeded to Oklahoma's bombing and back to when JFK was shot - the last few day's aftermath has been similar in many ways.

I don't personally know anyone who was involved, but I've anguished and cried for those who are, and my heart goes out to all of them.