Forever Changed | A Patriot Day Reflection

On September 11th, 2001, the world stopped.
 And for me — everything changed.

In this special reflection, I share where I was that day, what I saw, and how it shaped the choices that followed. My story isn’t unique — it’s a story shared by so many. But maybe hearing it will remind you that if those memories still haunt you… you’re not alone.

Episode 6 of How Did We Get Here? is not just about history — it’s about the cracks, the crossroads, and the choices that still echo decades later.

🎧 Forever Changed — now streaming.

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Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 (Attribution–NonCommercial)
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How Did We Get Here? — real stories about the choices, cracks, and crossroads that shape us.

Transcript

Every life has turning points. This is where we talk about the choices, cracks, and crossroads that shape us.
 Welcome to How Did We Get Here? I’m Jim Richmond. Let’s begin.

Opening
Everyone remembers where they were that day — September 11th, 2001.
Doesn’t matter where you lived, what time zone you were in, or what you were doing… something changed.

And if the memories still haunt you, you’re not alone.
 My story isn’t unique. In fact, it’s probably a lot like yours.
 But maybe — just maybe — hearing it will help. Even if just a little.

For me, it was a beautiful September morning in England.
 That in itself made the day special.
 I took the train to work like I always did.
 Nothing out of the ordinary — calm, predictable, comfortable.

At noon, a group of us headed down the road to our usual spot for lunch — the typical English pub lunch.

Act 1 — The Moment
When we got back, the televisions were all on.
I never actually made it through the doorway.

One of my co-workers asked, “Have you contacted your family in New York?”
 I said, “Why?”

They replied, “Because something happened — this happened in the city.”
 I reassured them that my family was from upstate and nowhere near the city.

Then I saw what was on TV.
 The first image I saw was of one of the towers — the North Tower — with smoke pouring from it.
 No sound, just confusion.

Speculation was rampant: a plane had crashed in, but was it an accident or something worse?
 No one really knew.

Then we watched, in horror, as a second plane hit the South Tower.
 I’ll never forget that image.
 It’s burned into my memory forever.

I stood there in the doorway — frozen.
 It was even worse than a horror movie.
 Because in a horror movie, you know it’s not real.
 This was real. And it was happening now.

Shortly after, the North Tower collapsed.
 I was overcome with emotion.
 I couldn’t stay where I was.

I ran to the bathroom and looked in the mirror.
 Tears were streaming down my face.
 Overwhelmed. Shattered. Broken.

Even now — 24 years later — the tears still come when I talk about it.
 And maybe they always will.

Act 2 — The Weight of After
I wasn’t the same person after that day.
The man who had walked into the office that morning didn’t walk back out.
He died quietly in the doorway, watching history collapse on live television.

Another victim — just not one counted in the official numbers.

The days that followed were slow. Heavy.
 I grabbed every newspaper. Watched every news station.
 I couldn’t read enough. I couldn’t watch enough.
 I couldn’t look away.
 I couldn’t stop.

I guess you could say I was consumed.

Act 3 — The Shift
Then something inside me shifted.

I had this deep, uncontrollable need to do something.
 To be home. To serve. To fight for my country again.

What I did next was completely out of character for me.
 I’m not going to go into the details right now.
 That story will come later — when the time is right.

But the important thing is this:
 I was no longer myself.

And the choices I made after that day…
 They would affect me for the rest of my life.

Closing Reflection
It’s been 24 years, but I remember it like it was yesterday.

That day didn’t just change the world.
 It changed me.
 And I know I’m not the only one.

We all lost something that day.
 Some lost loved ones.
 Some lost their sense of safety.
 Some lost themselves.

You won’t see our names carved in stone, but we carry the cracks just the same.

I never got to say goodbye.
 Never got to tell that version of me what was coming.
 And maybe you didn’t either.

If there’s someone you need to talk to — even if it’s yourself — do it.
 Before the silence becomes permanent.

I started this podcast to ask hard questions — about the cracks, the choices, and the things that shape us.
 And this day shaped everything.

Maybe not all at once, but deeply.
 This is one of those cracks.
 And I carry it still.

Outro
This is How Did We Get Here?
A podcast about the choices, cracks, and crossroads that shape us.

I’m Jim Richmond.
 And I’m still here for a reason.
 Maybe you are too.