I’ve been part of Bashyam Spiro for 10 years now. It’s impossible to write about all the memories I have of these people and our firm, because this has been such an integral part of my life. There are a few times that stand out, though, like 9/11/2001. I think everyone will remember where they were when those seminal events unfolded. It was at the beginning of my work day, and I was standing in Murali’s office, talking with him, when Rob Spiro ran down the hall with the news that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.
I’ve been part of Bashyam Spiro for 10 years now. It’s impossible to write about all the memories I have of these people and our firm, because this has been such an integral part of my life. There are a few times that stand out, though, like 9/11/2001. I think everyone will remember where they were when those seminal events unfolded. It was at the beginning of my work day, and I was standing in Murali’s office, talking with him, when Rob Spiro ran down the hall with the news that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.
We first thought it was probably an accident, or at least an isolated event. It wasn’t until the second plane hit about 15 minutes later that it started to sink in what was happening. It was so shocking – so outside our experience – that we didn’t know what to do. We couldn’t work, but we didn’t want to go home. We were terrified and appalled, but we could not turn away from the tv and radio. As news of the Pentagon hit was breaking, Rob and I rushed to the phones to call family and friends we had in the DC area. The day passed in somewhat of a fog. We all gathered in the break room to listen to updates together. We simply could not concentrate on work, but it didn’t matter because no one was calling. I suppose business phones everywhere were eerily silent. We sat, watched tv, tried to come to terms with the dawning of a new – and dangerous – era. We threw darts for a little while, just to have something to do with our hands as those tragic images came across the airwaves. Someone ran across the street to get some sandwiches. And the day finally passed.
Of course most of my memories of Bashyam Spiro are funny, touching, proud, exciting, silly, warm, nostalgic – anything but sad. I’m so lucky to have a decade of good memories here to help balance out the one tragic. So, this firm and these people – like 9/11 – are indelibly etched on my mind because they are part of my history. And, good or bad, happy or sad, our history makes us who we are.
Tags: 9/11, immigration law practice anniversary, law firm memories