story5449.xml

story5449.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I, like so many people in the NJ area was watching tv (the Today Show), when the first plane struck the World Trade Center. It knocked out all of the tv stations, so I knew something terrible had happened, although I didn't know what. So, I continued going about my daily ritual of getting ready for work, my hair, make-up, etc... Finally at 9:00, I kissed my dog good-bye, locked him up in his cage, and turned on the radio for him. What I heard, I couldn't believe... The DJ's were announcing that a second plane had just struck the other Twin Tower. I thought it was an Orsen Wells type of joke, so I ran to the tv to see if it was true or not. I flipped from channel to channel, but there was no reception on any of them. So I decided to leave for work.
On my ride in, my usual station kept on breaking in with special announcements and updates regarding the airplanes. I remember driving under overpasses on Route 22, and seeing people and cars stopped and staring in the sky. So I looked in my rear view mirror and couldn't believe what I saw. There were 2 cloudy smoke trails heading towards the heavens. I thought to myself "Oh my god, we're under attack! It's really happened!" Then I continued on my way to work. Once I was there, we listened to the radio in horror about the towers crumbeling, the Pentagon being targeted, the plane that went down in PA, and the missing planes from the radar. All I know is that I just wanted to be home. I just wanted to know that all of my loved ones were safe from all of this.
Luckilly, my work let all of us go home at noon. (The owners themselves had loved ones who were in NYC on that day, and they were worried as well.
I drove home like a maniac. I just had this intense need to watch the tv, and find out where and how everyone I knew was. I made it home in half the time I normally did. I was amazed. Once I was there, I immediately called my husband. I tried frantically to reach him, but no one was answering the phones. Since he works in Elizabeth, on the seaport, I figured he was in harms way. Next I called my parents, they were both fine, and on their way home. "thank God, I thought to myself, now to find out how my honey is". He called a few minutes later. He had been at his parents house, to find out how they were. His dad was in NYC that morning, and had just left the city at 9:30, just as all the commotion was in full swing. It took him almost 3 hours to get home, (normally a 45 minute trip). I was so overjoyed to know that everyone I know and cared for were all safe and sound.
Once I found out everyone was ok, I focused on the tv set. I just ltared at the set with tears in my eyes for hours. I still can't watch the images without breaking out into tears. Sometime that afternoon, the wind kicked up in my area, and the air had the worst odor I've ever smelled in my life. Somehow I knew it was from the towers collapse. A mix of the gasoline, bodies and other vapors wafting through the air made the event seem all to realistic.
Sometime after that, I had the need to donate blood to the Red Cross. I tried to get through for hours, but the lines were all busy. I was truly struck by the tradgedy. I felt blessed to be alive, and had an intense need to help those in the towers and in the planes. I just wanted to help in some way although I didn't know how.
I was one of the lucky one's. I consider myself to be very fortunate that no one I personally know was lost on that beautiful, crisp September morning. Weatherwise, it was one of the most beautiful days I've ever seen. Now whenever the sky is clear, without a cloud in it, I can't help but to think back to that morning.