story2124.xml
Title
story2124.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-10
911DA Story: Story
I am an addiction medicine specialist who lives and works in New York City. The morning of the attacks, I had just gotten a coffee with my partner Gregory at the Starbuck's Coffee shop on the upper east side. We crossed 3rd avenue and I boarded a bus go further uptown. He patted me on the back and said good-bye. I got to work at about 9AM.
I remember trying to use my cell phone a bit after 9AM and all I could get was "all circuits are busy now, could you place you call later." Frustrated, I went out into the outdoor courtyard of my office and the building maintanance man said one of the World Trade Towers was hit by a plane.
I went back to the office and turned on my radio. I began hearing sirens. I cried as I listened to the radio. I got a call from Gregory who told me what was happening on TV. I heard on the radio that the second tower was struck.'
I decided to stay far uptown for an hour and then closed the office and began the walk back from 91st street to my house in the 60's.
I could see billows of smoke far downtown as I walked south on Lexington ave. My cell phone still would not work. People were in shock. Busses were filled to the brim with people. The further south I walked, I finally saw people walking north that had come from the World Trade Center Site. Bits and pieces of the story slowly unfolded.
When I got home, I was so happy to see Gregory. We have several friends who lived near the trade center. We housed them and Ruben (a pug dog) who lived with Julie, one of our women friends.
To my shock, I first saw the sight of the buidings on TV for the first time. I cried more.
Life will never be the same.
I am more patriotic, more cautious and I feel more connection with other people since then. Now at the 1st anniversary of this horrible day, I remember the strength of Americans coming together to help at that dire time of need in our history and in my life.
I remember trying to use my cell phone a bit after 9AM and all I could get was "all circuits are busy now, could you place you call later." Frustrated, I went out into the outdoor courtyard of my office and the building maintanance man said one of the World Trade Towers was hit by a plane.
I went back to the office and turned on my radio. I began hearing sirens. I cried as I listened to the radio. I got a call from Gregory who told me what was happening on TV. I heard on the radio that the second tower was struck.'
I decided to stay far uptown for an hour and then closed the office and began the walk back from 91st street to my house in the 60's.
I could see billows of smoke far downtown as I walked south on Lexington ave. My cell phone still would not work. People were in shock. Busses were filled to the brim with people. The further south I walked, I finally saw people walking north that had come from the World Trade Center Site. Bits and pieces of the story slowly unfolded.
When I got home, I was so happy to see Gregory. We have several friends who lived near the trade center. We housed them and Ruben (a pug dog) who lived with Julie, one of our women friends.
To my shock, I first saw the sight of the buidings on TV for the first time. I cried more.
Life will never be the same.
I am more patriotic, more cautious and I feel more connection with other people since then. Now at the 1st anniversary of this horrible day, I remember the strength of Americans coming together to help at that dire time of need in our history and in my life.
Collection
Citation
“story2124.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 23, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/15567.