story3359.xml

story3359.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

On THAT day, I was only a short distance from the WTC . I recall the day as unusually warm for September..and not a cloud in the sky..which was an almost surrealistic shimmering blue. After finally getting home..I wrote in my journal the next day, all that had happened. Here is the entry from 9/12/01 which is how I preceived it at the time. Later I took pics and continued to write. And today..I wrote it again..in synch with the times that will be remembered forever by many..I will NOT write that here...but only the initial recollection the day following...
Wednesday, September 12, 2001 8:59:42 AM
I didn't write yesterday because of the great tragedy that has befallen my country.
I am having a hard time even writing it down..but I know I must. I just can't seem to get away from the emotions that are a result of all that has happened. I am having a very hard time praying..tho I know that ultimately, that is what I need to do.

First of all, my WTC story...
I caught the ferry at my usual time of 8:30 a.m. The ride from Port Liberte to the foot of Wall St. took just about 10 minutes. I remember looking at my watch because I've been trying to improve my walking time. As I was approaching Hanover Sq. Park ..about 8:45..a shower of debris began falling from the sky. I was sure it was a fire somewhere..but didn't even consider that it was what it was. The ash kept falling for the remainder of my walk to my office. Made it in record time!

My hair was gritty with the fallen ash..and my white blouse covered at the shoulders. I took the elevator to my floor(10) and Kerene, our receptionist was on the phone. I let her know that something was going on, still thinking that there was a major fire somewhere.

I booted up my machine, and dialed Scott (my husband..a post production editor for CBS News). As I was talking to him, there was an explosion..the time..now infamous was 9:03 a.m. I told him that our building was rocked..
"Yes..I can see it" he said.
At that moment fear overwhelmed me. I yelled at Kerene that I thought it was time to get out.
Told Scott that I was getting out..and hung up. I was never able to talk to Scott again until I got home 2+ hours later.

Back at the office, I suggested that we go downstairs until we knew what was going on. Another co-worker, Larry was for waiting until we knew more. In the midst of the conversation the announcement came over the fire system "EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY". Kerene and I made our way to the fire escape and went down. Briefly checking on our fellows on the 6th Floor. I am most thankful that it was an easy 10 floors down. There was no panic..outwardly any way. I'm assuming that at the time, the majority of us didn't know exactly what had transpired. Having passed a TV, I had learned the the WTC was on fire..but didn't know how or why.

Upon gathering in front of the building, fellow employees gathered with those that hadn't made it up to the office. It was there that I learned a bit more about what happened and asked if it was ok to leave. At the time, I was just thinking that I had to get home..and find out where my husband was, and if he was ok...and of course cell phones were useless.

For a moment, I was drawn up Broadway toward the WTC..almost hypnotized. I think I was just following the crowd..or perhaps being pulled. We were free from work and wanted to see. The mass of people gravitating in that direction was amazing. A few seconds later, I made my way to the wall of a building and worked my way back down Exchange Place..the way I had come less than a 1/2 hour earlier. Going down Exchange Place/Alley to Broad Street, the debris was thick on the street and in the air. Smoke filled the sky above, that was only a short time ago, the bluest of late summer blue.

I worked my way to Beaver Street and back toward Hanover Square Park..tears running down my face. I saw bodies! ..and bits and pieces of people and their lives. I don't know why now, and perhaps I'll never know, but I stopped and picked up some of the paper scattered in the park itself. I stuffed it in my purse and continued on down the street. Just as I was coming to the corner at Water Street, my cell rang. I was hoping it was my husband who I had abruptly hung up on. Instead it was my sister calling from NV. She wanted to know if I was ok...let her know I was on my way to the ferry and home..asked her to call everyone and let them know I was ok..and hugged and kissed.

While waiting to cross Water St. I tried frantically to call Scott on the cell. Of course, it still didn't work. ..and even now I wonder how my sister got connected. Passing the building at 75 Water Street, there was a bank of public phones. I thought of stopping, but the 10 or so phones each had lines that were 5 deep with people..and there were some that were so anxious and scared that tempers were flaring. I continued down Old Slip toward South Street. Above me on the FDR I could hear the beginning of chaos.

Before I reached reach Pier 11 (Wall St and South St) there is a fire station. on the west side of the street; Company 11 or 15..I can't remember. As I write this, on the third day, I wonder and hope and pray that I shall see them when it is time to return. There were always FDNY folks out there..washing the trucks or maintaining equipment. I don't recall what was going on at the time. I realize now that I was in shock.

I reached the pier where my ferry departs. Pier 11 is a hub for a number of commuter ferries. When I arrived there was a mob. All I was truly concerned about was getting on my "normal" ferry back to Port Liberte and home. Very quickly NY Waterway ferries were arriving. The pier and landing barges were very crowded. Our NY DOT director was doing his very best to maintain a semblance of order. Unfortunately he was vastly outnumbered. Until that day regular ferry riders had referred to him as "the dock nazi". If you see him, let him know that I, for one, will NEVER refer to him that way again.

I gingerly made my way down the (DOT forbidden) barge and was very near to where my boat would dock. This was at 10:30 ...nearly an hour after I had arrived at Pier 11. As a boat, hopefully mine, was pulling up, I could see down Wall St. There was a HUGE roiling dust brown, reddish cloud coming toward me!!! ..and the Pier. The barge started rocking and very quickly the great cloud was upon me. At about the same time, I could hear a jet that appeared to be flying overhead. Visibility was less than zero. Collectively, me and everyone around did a "duck and cover" I prayed like I'd never prayed before. I was certain that my time for heaven had come. Thankfully, that didn't happen. I later learned that our airspace was already safe. At the time, though, it was very frightening. Captain Mike of the Teddy Roosevelt announced what the cause of this great cloud was..one of the two towers had completely collapsed. At that moment, you could hear everyone praying...my God, my God, my God.

I was back on NJ land about 11 a.m. The anxious faces of family members searching for loved ones confronted everyone as they left the boat. Cell phone service was out and our little peninsula seemed to me to be a microcosm of what was going on all over our country. As we dis-embarked from the boat..the shock was readily apparent. The fear and anxiety that we all felt..and still may feel, so much like news footage of wartime refugees.

I got to my home a little after that. Thankfully, I live only a short walk from the dock. The phone was ringing. The first of many calls from my family. I quickly learned that I could receive calls but not call out. My son Eric was crying. All my family knows I work very near "ground zero"..as it has come to be called. For the next two hours I stayed by the phone. My husband was eventually able to get through. I later learned that he feared I'd been lost in the tower collapse.

I immediately logged on to keep in touch with co-workers, email my client and learn all I could of friends that worked in and around WTC. Thankfully, my cable modem connection was still functioning quite well.

Today, the third day 9/13/01, I am just about over the great shock of it all. My husband was able to come home last night. I am hearing of friends and their family members who were there. My co-worker and friend Kerene, who was with me at work that day, is anxiously awaiting news of her husband, a police officer. An online friend's husband is still missing. He worked in Tower One ...on a floor above 100. I heard today that former co-workers are safe.

I am hoping to be able to go back to work tomorrow. I didn't realize until I hugged my husband last night, that I was probably..and still may be, suffering from shock! I slept for the first time since I woke up on 9/11/01. I look out the window today..and it is all sinking in..my beautiful skyline view is different..as is my whole country. God Bless America