Letter to the REAL Team

Team,

Eight years ago today, I was evacuated from the World Financial Center, which sat as close to the World Trade Center as Watermen’s Retreat is to the REAL Flagship Store. I watched from a window on the 28th floor as the second plane made impact. After a very orderly descent down the stairwell, I watched as firemen, lined up like soldiers, marched into the lobby of the north tower. No one had any idea that those towers would fall. There was no sense of urgency at all. I walked casually north along the Hudson River until I heard a rumble and turned around to see only one tower standing and a giant cloud of dust overtaking lower Manhattan like something out of a science fiction movie.

In the days and weeks that followed, I worked close enough to ground zero to see, hear and smell horrible things. Twisted metal everywhere. Ambulance sirens screeching all day. The horrible stench of burnt everything. Funeral after funeral.

I guess the reason I’m telling you this is to remind you that life is short. If you’re not happy, do something about it. If you don’t feel fulfilled, do something about it. And don’t be afraid to follow your dreams. Figure out what it’s going to take to put a smile on your face everyday and make it happen.

I still wake up every morning in awe of this place, Cape Hatteras, and the fact that this is now my home. I hope you do too. We are extremely fortunate to live where we live and to do what we love everyday. We make up a tiny percentage of the world’s population. Savor it! Strive to be happy. Don’t ever take it for granted!

Carl