Yesterday, while taking a walk along the beautiful Hudson Riverin Hoboken, N.J., I couldn't help but reflect on my 11 years here,working for National Underwriter. In fact, my anniversaryfalls next week.

The view, just a short walk from our office, is one of the bestin the world. I feel lucky to be here every day, as the EmpireState Building, right across the river, can't be missed as I emergefrom the train station.

This location, however, also has afforded the cat-seat to someunsettling, even heartbreaking views. First on everybody's mind inthis area was that warm, sunny day in September 2001 when we wentoutside the office, having heard that one of the World Trade Centerbuildings was on fire. Several of us stood mesmerized, watchingfrom across the Hudson as flames from the top floors lickedskyward. A plume of thick, black smoke filled the air. A short timelater we witnessed a large airplane traveling across the sky. Itcame closer and closer, finally exploding into the second tower.Our world was changed at that moment and we knew it.

Not too long after that was the blackout of parts of the EastCoast. With no power in the office and no trains running, I grabbedthe first bus I could out of the terminal. I was lucky to reach myhusband by cell phone and he picked me up about a half-hour fromhome. A friend in the office who lives in Brooklyn wasn't as lucky.Not able to find any transportation across the Hudson, she spentthe night in her office.

And then, just a few years ago was the day when “Sully” Sullivanlanded his plane, using the Hudson River as a runway. I heard themedia reports and walked out to the end of a huge pier, now a parkright on the Hudson. There, at a distance to the north I could seethe floating, crippled airplane. The sky was abuzz with circlinghelicopters and water taxis and ferries raced by. As I watched, tomy amazement, the airplane, now empty of its passengers, was towedpast.

Yes, my 11 years here in Hoboken have been anything but boring.But I'll take ho-hum any day over some of the excitement we'vewitnessed here.