story6266.xml

story6266.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I was living in Miami and consulting. My client was a hospital system in Long Island. I had planned to visit a friend in Boston for the weekend of 9/8/01-9/9/01 instead of returning home as usual between the two consecutive weeks I was scheduled to work with that client.

When I arrived on Monday 9/1/01 I found that my weekend plans were cancelled and decided to see Manhattan like a tourist over the weekend instead.

One Saturday 9/8/01 I spent a wonderful day enjoying all the typical tourist sights of New York. I visited the Statue of Liberty, Rockefellar Center, etc.

I had such a good time I decided to spend Sunday in the city as well. I wanted to see a Broadway show some night during the week so decided to stop first at the TKTS ticket booth in the WTC. It was closed but I spent a memorable 30 minutes talking toa very nice security guard. I remember him telling me that he was a life long resident of Little Italy (Italian) and he gave me several recommendations for dinner later that night. I remember being awed by the size and beauty of the building as I headed towards Battery Park to catch a ferry to Ellis Island.

After returning from Ellis Island I grapped dinner at one of the restaurants "my friendly security guard" had recommended and headed back out to Long Island.

Of course when Tuesday morning came and the world changed, all I could think about was whether that sweet and funny man had been on duty.

I only wish I could remember his name so that I could know if he was caught in the attack. I like to think since he worked the weekend that maybe he had Tuesday morning off.