And You, Where Were You on September 11, 2001?

From today to 9/11, Rekh Magazine makes a memory of the Major Event that shook the world. At the end, the witnesses will be included in a freely downloadable digital book. The first contribution is from a scientist and essayist, Italian-American Dr Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn

Quel giorno in Ohio: 11 settembre 2001

Di Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn

Ci sono giorni che rimangono impressi nella nostra memoria per sempre. L’11 settembre 2001 è uno di questi.

Ero in Ohio con mio marito (americano) e mio figlio di appena due anni in vacanza a casa dei miei suoceri. Stavamo guardando la televisione tranquillamente quando arrivarono le prime immagini delle Torri Gemelle a New York. All’inizio pensammo a un terribile errore del pilota. Poi arrivò il secondo aereo e capimmo che non si trattava di un incidente ma di un attentato. Davanti a noi si stava consumando una tragedia immensa che avrebbe cambiato New York e gli Stati Uniti.  Ricordo l’incredulità, il silenzio e quella sensazione di non riuscire a comprendere davvero ciò che stava accadendo. Poi, giorno dopo giorno, l'epilogo della tragedia. 

Nei giorni successivi l’America sembrava essersi fermata, cosa veramente insolita per un paese sempre in movimento. Tutti i voli aerei furono cancellati, le persone rimasero bloccate e anche trovare un’auto a noleggio era diventato difficile. Ricordo che lo zio di mio marito impiegò diversi giorni prima di tornare a casa perché il volo fu cancellato ed il noleggio di un'auto fu difficilissimo. Nei cieli dell’Ohio non si vedevano più i normali aerei di linea, ma quasi soltanto quelli militari - un'atmosfera inquietante. 

Noi, fortunatamente, non dovevamo rientrare a breve e quindi non avemmo problemi negli spostamenti. Ma vivevamo comunque quella strana atmosfera di paura e smarrimento che aveva avvolto tutto il Paese.

Ancora oggi, quando penso a quei giorni, la prima immagine che mi torna alla mente è proprio quella di un cielo insolitamente vuoto. Un silenzio che diceva più di mille parole.

Quel giorno in Ohio ho visto il mondo cambiare, un'esperienza dolorosa che spero tanto di non vivere nuovamente!

Abstract in English

9/11 - THAT DAY IN OHIO

In this article, Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn, a scientist and an essayist from Como (Italy), shares with Rekh Magazine's readers her personal memories of September 11, 2001, a day that changed the world forever.

At the time, Paola was in Ohio on vacation with her American husband and their two-year-old son, staying with her in-laws. They were watching TV when the first images of the Twin Towers appeared. At first, they thought it was a terrible accident. When the second plane hit, they realized it was an attack.

In the days that followed, America seemed to come to a standstill. Flights were cancelled, people were stranded, and even renting a car became difficult. Paola remembers the eerie silence in the skies over Ohio, where military planes had replaced the usual commercial flights. Although her family didn’t need to travel, they could feel the fear and confusion that had taken over the country.

Even today, the image that stays with Paola most is that unusually empty sky—a silence that said more than words ever could. It was the day she watched the world change, an experience she hopes never to live through again.

The Author

Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn with her daughter Raquel

Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn is an Italian researcher, food writer, and nutrition expert born in Como, Italy. She holds a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Milan, and a Master’s degree in Medical and Pharmaceutical Research obtained in Brussels. She worked as a scientist in Belgium at European Commission and Austria for over a decade before returning to Italy, where she devoted her work to nutrition, cooking, and wellness. Her approach combines scientific expertise with a strong foundation in Italian culinary tradition, inspired by her family. She is the author of several books on nutrition and Italian cuisine, Love is Eating, Healthy and Tasty Italian Recipes for Family Meals, a book about the Italian culinary culture; The Mamma Mia! Diet, which is a modern reinterpretation of the Mediterranean lifestyle, presented at Book City 2018 of University Bicocca; Honestly Healthy, Salads and Smoothies for Every Day Meals is a collection of tasty recipes including many tips on eating fresh, seasonal and home-prepared fruits and vegetables. Coronavirus: La “Nuova Normalità” What we live and What will change, a book describing the "tsunami" that affected society; Sip, Snack and Socialize: The Italian Aperitivo Experience, it is not just a pre-dinner drink, it is a way of life. She contributes to national and international magazines and is the creator of the blog Passion and Cooking, through which she promotes a balanced and culturally rooted approach to food. She is active as a wedding and event planner, specializing in bespoke events in Lake Como and Tuscany.