email70.xml
Title
email70.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
email
Date Entered
2002-03-12
September 11 Email: Body
Arriving late last night from London via Toronto into Newark (NJ) on a severely delayed flight and in the driving rain, I remarked to Tom who was seated in the aisle seat next to me of the two dramatic building out my window. That, I said, was the World Trade Center (WTC), the indication that we were in New York.
I was late to work this morning (8:45 am) and, for the first time, I was, actually, just in time. Impact at WTC I was just around 8:45 am when I had to be on the 40th floor of that building for my first day at the new office. As I ran up the steps out the Fulton Street Subway Station I heard a loud boom, a sound like backfire. I looked toward the WTC Bldg and saw workers pouring OUT of the buliding. Looking up, as it was impossible not to see, was the smoke flowing out of floors above about the 90th floor. I work on the 40th floor. At that time, I had no idea that an airplane had created this fire and smoke and thought, "okay, I guess I wont go to work today, they should have it cleaned up by tomorrow".
Instead of walking towards WTC, I turned around and walked to a friends office at Trinity and Broadway two blocks away to make a few calls to collegues and friends in other offices on Wall Street: mobile networks were engaged all morning. After finishing the first call I was looking out the window at the fire and saw a shadow at the other Tower. It was then I heard a second large BOOM. Looking up out the window, WTC building II was now on fire starting a lower floor at about floor 60. I darted for the fire stairs.
Out onto Broadway debris was everywhere-like a tickertape parade, as if the Yankees won the Pennant again--there was no celebration. I bent down to pick up a few pieces of paper laying in the street: a financial report on consumer products and, ironically, a airline industry report.
Walking past Wall Street station I moved my way down to Bowling Green and hopped on a 4 train on route to Grand Central. I was surprised at how empty the trains were. Meeting my friend Bengali half and comforting her at her workplace, we walked home to E72nd street as no bus, subway or taxi was now running.
I can only chant prayers hoping that we, as South Asians and as Americans, as I am, are not treated as the Japanese Americans during WWII. As our leaders make world changing decisions over the next few days, I will have to assess what response Suhana and I will take.
In any case I am o.k. for now.
Peace on Earth - Ahimsa First
Pierre
I was late to work this morning (8:45 am) and, for the first time, I was, actually, just in time. Impact at WTC I was just around 8:45 am when I had to be on the 40th floor of that building for my first day at the new office. As I ran up the steps out the Fulton Street Subway Station I heard a loud boom, a sound like backfire. I looked toward the WTC Bldg and saw workers pouring OUT of the buliding. Looking up, as it was impossible not to see, was the smoke flowing out of floors above about the 90th floor. I work on the 40th floor. At that time, I had no idea that an airplane had created this fire and smoke and thought, "okay, I guess I wont go to work today, they should have it cleaned up by tomorrow".
Instead of walking towards WTC, I turned around and walked to a friends office at Trinity and Broadway two blocks away to make a few calls to collegues and friends in other offices on Wall Street: mobile networks were engaged all morning. After finishing the first call I was looking out the window at the fire and saw a shadow at the other Tower. It was then I heard a second large BOOM. Looking up out the window, WTC building II was now on fire starting a lower floor at about floor 60. I darted for the fire stairs.
Out onto Broadway debris was everywhere-like a tickertape parade, as if the Yankees won the Pennant again--there was no celebration. I bent down to pick up a few pieces of paper laying in the street: a financial report on consumer products and, ironically, a airline industry report.
Walking past Wall Street station I moved my way down to Bowling Green and hopped on a 4 train on route to Grand Central. I was surprised at how empty the trains were. Meeting my friend Bengali half and comforting her at her workplace, we walked home to E72nd street as no bus, subway or taxi was now running.
I can only chant prayers hoping that we, as South Asians and as Americans, as I am, are not treated as the Japanese Americans during WWII. As our leaders make world changing decisions over the next few days, I will have to assess what response Suhana and I will take.
In any case I am o.k. for now.
Peace on Earth - Ahimsa First
Pierre
September 11 Email: Date
11 September 2:30 pm EST
September 11 Email: Subject
I was at the WTC Bldg. One & I am OK
Collection
Citation
“email70.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed April 23, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/39925.