"My wife had taken off on a plane. Two airplanes had crashed into the World Trade Center. I, of course, like any other person, felt potentially devastated, panicky a little bit"

Ted Olson's quote records the raw emotion and unpredictability that numerous individuals experienced throughout the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In the context of these historic events, Olson's words convey a deep sense of personal and cumulative vulnerability, in addition to a poignant mix of fear and helplessness that identified that day for countless people.

Olson starts by pointing out that his other half had "taken off on an aircraft". This information immediately develops a personal connection to the catastrophe that will unfold, as any interruption in flight throughout such tragic occasions could possibly signify a connection to the attacks. The reference to his partner's flight sets the phase for the emotional chaos that Olson experienced, as it introduces the possibility of individual loss in the middle of an unprecedented national tragedy.

The next part of Olson's statement--"Two airplanes had actually crashed into the World Trade Center"-- brings the listener abruptly into the larger context of the horrific attacks. By specifying the crash into the World Trade Center, Olson highlights the magnitude of the event, which was not just a substantial minute in American history but also an around the world shock. The imagery of aircrafts crashing into such iconic structures resonates with the catastrophic impact and sheer destruction that the attacks represented. It immediately conjures the terror and turmoil that unfolded that day.

When Olson admits, "I, naturally, like any other person, felt possibly ravaged, panicky a bit", he universalizes his individual experience, linking it to a shared human response to crisis and unpredictability. His acknowledgment of both devastation and panic reflects a natural, visceral action. The phrase "potentially devastated" suggests an awareness of the looming individual and cumulative grief that could be realized, reflecting a suspended state of shock and the anticipation of possible loss.

In essence, Olson's quote poignantly shows a moment of extreme personal unpredictability intertwined with nationwide scary, encapsulating the complex emotions dealt with by countless people on 9/11.