story11090.xml
Title
story11090.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2004-09-21
911DA Story: Story
This story is very hard to write, as a matter of fact im telling it for the first time now 3 years later.
I was at the time a bus operator for the NYCTA. I drove the x28 from bensonhurst section of brooklyn to manhattan.
I had been a driver on this line for years and knew many
of my passengers, some by their first names others just by simple hellos and an exchange of smiles. I loved this job and even turned down a promotional opportunity, just to be near "my people".
For the four months before i had picked a different line the x29. Monday September10th was the first day of a new pick, thank God i was back on my favorite line the x28.
On that tuesday like the day before i was saying hello to all my old friends i had not seen for months.
As it happens so often on my job you get to know many of your passengers and they get to know you.
On 9/11/01 i had just dropped off my heaviest stop. That was church street directly across from the WTC. about 15 passengers were exititing the bus past me. One Young lady
I had not seen in months, stopped and said hi Jimmy are you back with us this pick , i smiled and said of course. She rubbed my right arm,and said great to have you back. She and the others exited the bus and crossed over church street to go to their jobs in the world trade center. I had picked this young lady(about 32) for a couple of years.
I remember her telling me she worked in the upper floors of the north tower once, but not every day.I always remember a year before she was on my bus in the evening i had a standing load she was up front and i was pulling up to the last stop on broadway,she was on her cell. I had no more room on the bus and i wasn't going to open the doors. She pleaded her case that her fiancee was at that stop...she always smiled at me always said hello. NO questions asked nice people always win, i openend the doors and he squezzed on. They both thanked me, he was as nice as she was. So their you go another nice friendship was born. She always knew my name and like so many other people i only knew her smile and her stops. On 9/11 at approx 730am she walked off my bus rubbed my arm and smiled she crossed in front of my bus and waved ,i waved back and smilied. I continued on my trip uptown. I had a 9:25 second trip back out of Brooklyn. I had to drive back downtown to the battery to get back to Brooklyn. I stopped at the light on West And Vessey, looked down at my watch 8:40 am. I had plenty of time, but im so very sorry to say that young lady and thousands more did not have as much time left.
This is one of my memories of that date. I worked for the next two years till i could retire. Ive always had the guilt of that day taking innocents to work on that oterwise
clear 75 degree day, but my mind stays cloudy.
I dont miss driving into Manhattan, but do so miss the many friends i had on that bus.
May all thoes lost and their families find the peace they
do so deserve.
I was at the time a bus operator for the NYCTA. I drove the x28 from bensonhurst section of brooklyn to manhattan.
I had been a driver on this line for years and knew many
of my passengers, some by their first names others just by simple hellos and an exchange of smiles. I loved this job and even turned down a promotional opportunity, just to be near "my people".
For the four months before i had picked a different line the x29. Monday September10th was the first day of a new pick, thank God i was back on my favorite line the x28.
On that tuesday like the day before i was saying hello to all my old friends i had not seen for months.
As it happens so often on my job you get to know many of your passengers and they get to know you.
On 9/11/01 i had just dropped off my heaviest stop. That was church street directly across from the WTC. about 15 passengers were exititing the bus past me. One Young lady
I had not seen in months, stopped and said hi Jimmy are you back with us this pick , i smiled and said of course. She rubbed my right arm,and said great to have you back. She and the others exited the bus and crossed over church street to go to their jobs in the world trade center. I had picked this young lady(about 32) for a couple of years.
I remember her telling me she worked in the upper floors of the north tower once, but not every day.I always remember a year before she was on my bus in the evening i had a standing load she was up front and i was pulling up to the last stop on broadway,she was on her cell. I had no more room on the bus and i wasn't going to open the doors. She pleaded her case that her fiancee was at that stop...she always smiled at me always said hello. NO questions asked nice people always win, i openend the doors and he squezzed on. They both thanked me, he was as nice as she was. So their you go another nice friendship was born. She always knew my name and like so many other people i only knew her smile and her stops. On 9/11 at approx 730am she walked off my bus rubbed my arm and smiled she crossed in front of my bus and waved ,i waved back and smilied. I continued on my trip uptown. I had a 9:25 second trip back out of Brooklyn. I had to drive back downtown to the battery to get back to Brooklyn. I stopped at the light on West And Vessey, looked down at my watch 8:40 am. I had plenty of time, but im so very sorry to say that young lady and thousands more did not have as much time left.
This is one of my memories of that date. I worked for the next two years till i could retire. Ive always had the guilt of that day taking innocents to work on that oterwise
clear 75 degree day, but my mind stays cloudy.
I dont miss driving into Manhattan, but do so miss the many friends i had on that bus.
May all thoes lost and their families find the peace they
do so deserve.
Collection
Citation
“story11090.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 20, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/11265.