story1302.xml

story1302.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-20

I take a daily bus (NJ Transit) in from Westfield, NJ. If I am awake on the bus, I always manage to view NYC from the NJ side prior to making the turn into the Lincoln Tunnel. That morning I know my eyes were closed. Although I am a Jets fan, I think I stayed up late to watch the Giants on Monday Night Football. It must have been about 8:35 AM when we went into the tunnel. I don't wear a watch, so I traditionally look for a clock when I exit through the Port Authority Bus Terminal. I remember specifically seeing 8:46 on the clock that morning (first plane hits WTC). I walked to work a few blocks away. Since I work in the media industry, we have CNN on the TV in our lobby and I was one of the first besides the receptionist to see the intial report that a plane had crashed into the WTC. Like others I assumed it was small plane. Perhaps the pilot suffered a seizure or heart attack? As others entered the office, they too became transfixed on the TV. A group of us sat in horror as the 2nd plane hit live on TV. This was no coincidence and it was no longer an accident. My only glimpse of the towers took place within the next 1/2 hour when a co-worker and I walked over to 5th or 6th avenue and saw the plumes of smoke pouring from both towers. A short time after we got back the office, the first tower collapsed. At this time, the city was locked down and e-mail was my savior in that it was the only way I could communicate with anyone. I received an e-mail from my sister-in-law and she relayed the message that I was alright. I managed to get one of the first trains departing from NJ from Penn Station around 2 PM. It was a very slow ride and everyone had the same look on their faces- one of confusion and disbelief. A few of the persons clothes were caked with dust. No doubt, they had been much closer to the scene.