story6139.xml

story6139.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I am and always will be a New Yorker at heart. I grew up on Long Island and lived in Manhattan for 5 years and considered "the City" my home. New York has always had such an electrifying energy, it has such a strong spirit and I cherish my time there. I miss it terribly. I just moved with my husband, Erik, to Chicago and we were getting settled in our new place on September 1. I was working with him as a trader and Sept 11 was my first day. Erik, noticed the markets were just plunging and kept on saying "something is wrong, something horrible just happened." This was before the news hit, before everything unfolded in front of our eyes. I and others in the office reassured him that things were ok, maybe a company warned. Then, we saw the first crash. We were all thinking, how could this happen, how can this be an accident? Then, the second crash and the newscaster said, "America, we are under attack, we are at War." I just started crying uncontrollably and kept thinking how can something like this happen. I was also praying for all those people in the twin towers, in the area as well as those in the Pentagon. I didn't know anyone in the buildings but my brother lost a friend. He had a 6 month old and a 2 year old and I met this man, a young guy in his 30's a few years ago. My heart goes out to him and to the families of those who perished. I have come across a lot of situations where peoples luck changed their lives. My friend was supposed to be in the Trade Center the day it happened but he had to cancel his appointment with a client because he had a doctor's appointment in Midtown. My old roomie was givend 2 offers at firms: one in the trade center but she chose the latter. My mom's assistant teacher's sister was in the Trade Center but she was on the 50th floor in the 2nd building and was quite lucky because she survived.
When it happened, I wanted to be in New York, to help, to do something. My family all donated blood and went to the Javitts Center to help make sandwiches for the rescue mission. I felt so foreign in Chicago because my heart will always be in New York.
This year, I was in a 4th grade classroom in Chicago working as a teacher's assistant. I was extremely emotional and found that there were a few people in this school were indifferent. It is quite sad but since this wasn't there home I can see how it didn't truly impact them. Had it been their city under siege, maybe they would've been a bit more compassionate. The teacher I worked with discussed it in class and the principal had all go outside and say the pledge which was nice.