story1115.xml

story1115.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-19

I wrote this 4 days after the attacks:

Thank you to everyone who expressed their concern. I made it home to Atlanta from Manhattan late last night.
Several have asked for my story. I realize it is one of so many, and long, but I will share it as a record of my experience.

I flew up to NYC Monday night, for a 1 day visit with my customer at the World Trade Center tower 2. I had done work for them on a regular basis for the last year. I was to work with them on Tuesday, 9/11. I usually
start work at 8:30am, but knowing my customers, they wouldnt show up in the lab until around 9, so I lingered over the newspaper a few more minutes. I took the subway to the world trade Center because I was staying at the Times Square Marriott. Usually I stay at the World Trade
Center Marriott when there because it is next door, but decided I wanted to be near the theatre district in hopes of catching a show on Tuesday nite before leaving Wed morning.

When I got off the subway Tuesday morning and walked to the WTC mall, people started hesitating and turning around. I went through the turnstiles to go into the WTC and heard people directing us to leave.

"Don't run" they cautioned. I assumed there was a gunman or a bomber. I quickly walked back to the subway and up the stairs to daylight. Everyone was looking up and I saw there was a huge hole in one of the towers. I was in shock, trying to figure out which tower it was, and what had
happened. Someone said a plane had crashed into the building. Debris was falling off the building and a huge cloud of smoke was billowing out of the tower. Someone described people jumping, and I looked away, not wanting to see.

People just stood there looking up, and I just wanted to walk away. There was falling debris and I just wanted out of there. Then I heard a boom and looked up and there was a fireball headed for us. I ducked and crouched in the corner, then jumped around the corner of a building.
Something flew overhead and smelled like famaldahide. I imagine it was jet fuel. It struck somewhere a block or 2 away. I asked someone, "What was that?". They said it was "the other plane." At that point I was totally puzzled, thinking it was an accident and that two planes had
almost collided and instead crashed into the towers.

I walked East for a few blocks, then decided to walk, carrying my laptop, back to the hotel. I heard people directing us to keep walking. My cell phone had by this time 5 messages on it, but I couldnt get through to call
any of my family to let them know I was ok. I stopped at the Canal street station, paid my fare, and waited a few minutes. I rested a minute, but it was very hot there, and I decided there wouldnt be any trains coming from the WTC. I kept walking, this time to Chambers street, and heard a train running, so I ran down. I caught the next train to my
hotel. On the train, I heard people talking, and one said it was a terrorist attack.

I got to my hotel room and couldnt get through on either the hotel phone or my cell phone. The tv stations were all out. The hotel room had a high speed internet connection, and I connected my laptop, saw an email from my mom and some friends, and emailed them back to know I was ok. I
finally got through on my cell phone to my mother and let her know I was ok, then walked across the street to McDonalds for some breakfast.

When I got back, my family and friends and I created a chat room and shared our experience. I told them what I had seen and heard how scared they were for me. It was comforting for me to know that we were all connected at that moment. We even did an online hug.

I saw on the news the buildings had crumbled, and heard from my family that the Pentagon had been hit. Like everyone else, I wondered if the world was coming to an end.
There was noone around. I emailed work to let them know I was ok and asked if we were at war.

I spent the next two days in Manhattan, which was the strangest I have ever seen it. Just seeing people was comforting. I thought about volunteering or giving blood but did neither. I talked to the maid about what had happened. There were very few people in times square, so I
walked to Chelsea every afternoon. Tuesday only some of the restaurants were open I smelled the smoke, saw the zombie look on peoples faces. I imagine I was still in shock most of the day Tuesday and part of Wed. Wed
I was able to have dinner outside in Chelsea, there were signs up urging people to be outside at 7 to show we are unafraid. At dark, people started lighting candles, and I stood next to a group of them for a few mintes, needing so desperately to feel the "light" through the pain of what had
happened. I kept hearing in my head what a friend had written me after the attack: "See the light! See it in people's faces!" I was beginning to feel that life might actually return to "normal". I chatted with people
on the internet and watched the news on TV. I spoke with friends and family on the phone. Manhattan island had been cut off, and it wasnt until Thursday that I really considered trying to get home.

By Thursday there were signs NYC and times square were starting to wake up. I stood in line on Thursday and met 4 women buying tickets for The Full Monty. They had been in NYC a week on vacation, and shared with me the shows they had seen. I smiled for the first time since Tuesday
morning. I ate dinner at a restaurant where my sister had eaten often while living in Manhattan. I went to the show and was sitting next to the women I had met in Times Square. An announcer before the show said the
mayor had asked New Yorkers to get back to work to show the terrorists that life still goes on. They would not defeat us. He said the cast was grateful we were there because the work they do is entertain, and you need an audience for that. And they did do that, making us laugh for 2 hours
in the midst of the pain and shock of the attacks.

Some flights had started late Thursday, but by Thursday nite the NY airports were all closed again. I made arrangements to rent a car at La Guardia for Friday morning, and I took a cab there, rented the car, and
drove to Philadelphia where I hoped to catch a plane to Atlanta. I called Delta and my travel agent from my cell phone and found that Delta had refused my reservation from Philly to Atlanta, so I drove the 16 hours
all the way to Atlanta. I got in late last nite.

Having been in NYC the last several days, I hadnt fully realized the impact the attacks had on the entire country. On the drive home, I heard the radio in small cities, and saw American flags on many bridges.

I will spend this afternoon and evening with some of my family and hope to spend tomorrow with some of my friends. I know that all our lives were changed this week, and I hope this experience brings us closer together.
I am still looking over my shoulder, and I imagine we all will for some time. I see the outpouring of love and sympathy for those who experienced such great loss as a result of these attacks. I hear the stories of the
brave fire fighters who gave their lives saving others, the stories of the terrorists, the stories of those who lost their lives, and of those still looking for their loved ones. I hear the stories of looting, of telemarketing scams, bomb scares and fake internet sites. And I hear
about everyone lighting candles.

I have begun lighting my own candles again at home, and for that I am very grateful. I pray for strength, protection, love and understanding. For myself and for everyone.

David