story7436.xml
Title
story7436.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-14
911DA Story: Story
I just said to my mom tonite how I think the horrific events of 9/11/2001 is my generation's version of when President Kennedy was assassinated. I will NEVER FORGET where I was/exactly what I was doing...just as I'm sure every person alive during the time will not.
I work just across the river in New Jersey on the top floor (6th) of a building which had clear awesome view of the towers daily outside my window. That day was a beautiful day weather-wise and everyone from my office was in that day for a company meeting at 9am - Thank God. I was on the phone with a close friend wishing her a happy 30th birthday around 8:40 when a co-worker ran down the hall 'a plane just hit the World Trade'. I told my friend to turn on the tv and opened my window blinds, all we could see was smoke b/c the building was obscured by the other. My best friend worked down in the WTC complex, so I hung up with my bday friend to call her and find out what was going on. By the time I hung up from leaving her a voicemail, the other plane hit. I didn't see it, but immediately looked out the window and just stood in shock. People from lower floors in our building began converging in our office to view the horror. Some people turned on tvs in the conference room and sat motionless, others - including myself - were frantic on the phone trying to reach loved ones who worked there. The person heading the meeting had the audacity to attempt to start it (he was from DC and for some reason wasn't as concerned at the rest of us even though The Pentagon had been attacked as well) around 9:45. No one was paying attention. Shortly after starting my boss was called out for a call & walked back in literally white as a sheet 5 minutes later 'the building just collapsed' she said and we all sat silent - a pin could have dropped on the carpet & we would have heard it. Seconds seemed like hours, then there was a mad dash by everyone for phones - which by now were completely inoperable - the only thing that worked with regularity was instant messenger. I was IMing a friend in Dallas pleading with him to call my best friend's house. My west coast boss somehow got through by phone and I had her start calling my friend. Thankfully around 11:30am I got in touch with her, she had just walked in from walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. I collapsed in my chair in tears. She worked in 4 WTC and began telling me how it was literally hell on earth.
I thought I had made it through the tragedy without losing someone personally. Sadly, my neighbor across the street - just 42 years old - with a small daughter & wife died in the attack. He was in Windows of the World for a meeting that day, he didn't even work in the towers. He had the brightest smile, was always tending to his lawn and would scream across the street 'HELLO MONICA' anytime he saw me. Rest in Peace - Wade Brian Green - a man with a spirit so sweet and giving which makes me believe he still lives among us.
I work just across the river in New Jersey on the top floor (6th) of a building which had clear awesome view of the towers daily outside my window. That day was a beautiful day weather-wise and everyone from my office was in that day for a company meeting at 9am - Thank God. I was on the phone with a close friend wishing her a happy 30th birthday around 8:40 when a co-worker ran down the hall 'a plane just hit the World Trade'. I told my friend to turn on the tv and opened my window blinds, all we could see was smoke b/c the building was obscured by the other. My best friend worked down in the WTC complex, so I hung up with my bday friend to call her and find out what was going on. By the time I hung up from leaving her a voicemail, the other plane hit. I didn't see it, but immediately looked out the window and just stood in shock. People from lower floors in our building began converging in our office to view the horror. Some people turned on tvs in the conference room and sat motionless, others - including myself - were frantic on the phone trying to reach loved ones who worked there. The person heading the meeting had the audacity to attempt to start it (he was from DC and for some reason wasn't as concerned at the rest of us even though The Pentagon had been attacked as well) around 9:45. No one was paying attention. Shortly after starting my boss was called out for a call & walked back in literally white as a sheet 5 minutes later 'the building just collapsed' she said and we all sat silent - a pin could have dropped on the carpet & we would have heard it. Seconds seemed like hours, then there was a mad dash by everyone for phones - which by now were completely inoperable - the only thing that worked with regularity was instant messenger. I was IMing a friend in Dallas pleading with him to call my best friend's house. My west coast boss somehow got through by phone and I had her start calling my friend. Thankfully around 11:30am I got in touch with her, she had just walked in from walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. I collapsed in my chair in tears. She worked in 4 WTC and began telling me how it was literally hell on earth.
I thought I had made it through the tragedy without losing someone personally. Sadly, my neighbor across the street - just 42 years old - with a small daughter & wife died in the attack. He was in Windows of the World for a meeting that day, he didn't even work in the towers. He had the brightest smile, was always tending to his lawn and would scream across the street 'HELLO MONICA' anytime he saw me. Rest in Peace - Wade Brian Green - a man with a spirit so sweet and giving which makes me believe he still lives among us.
Collection
Citation
“story7436.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 25, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/14283.