9/11 Took My Dad When I Was 12: Grief 25 Years Later with David Kessler (#278)

Navigating the long-term, individual experience of grief following the 9/11 terrorist attacks requires reconciling public tragedy with private loss. David Ferrugio, who lost his father in the World Trade Center at age 12, explores this journey in his book, *You Are Not Dead Yet*. The conversation examines the burden of feeling responsible for family members as a child and the persistent, often erratic nature of grief 25 years later. Ferrugio argues that legacy is not a singular, grand achievement but a collection of "micro-movements" and daily choices. The discussion highlights the necessity of allowing joy and sadness to coexist, suggesting that moving forward is not a betrayal of the deceased, but a way to honor their memory by fully experiencing the remainder of one's own life.