Everyone in New York City has a 9/11 story. This one’s mine.

I was back there last week, staying at a hotel across the street from the World Trade Center. I spent the better part of an evening standing on the corner of Church and Dey, remembering.

Lunch with my friend in the summer by Fritz Koenig’s “Sphere” sculpture.

Looking out the window of my dad’s office as a kid, marveling that I was in the tallest building in the world (at the time it was true) and believing that my father was important just because he got to go to work there.

Heading into the first day of my summer internship with the New York Stock Exchange Division of Enforcement (I did no actual work that summer).

Going with my dad to the Chemical Bank to cash in some bonds during his lunch break.

Browsing in Borders before going to my office.

Swiping an empty magnum of champagne from Windows On The World at the end of an evening. Two separate times (yes, I still have the empty magnums in my house).

Spending time in the concourse until it was time for me to go to my SCUBA lessons in Jersey City.

My story doesn’t involve lost loved ones. I don’t dare compare my experience with those who were trapped in the buildings, those who died, and those who suffered loss due to the events of the day.

But 9/11 changed my life – and my law practice – forever.

I know where I was at 8:46am on a brilliant Tuesday morning in September. And I always will.

Listen to the audio to hear how it went down for me, and the ways in which it impacted me.