email275.xml

email275.xml

born-digital

email

unknown

yes

2002-08-19

Hi All,

The past 4 days have felt like weeks. It is friday, and normally I would be celebrating the weekend, but today I sit and wonder what the weekend will bring for new york and america.

I got to work at 8:30 Tuesday morning, and started to turn on my computer when someone screamed out, "oh my god, a plane just hit the world trade center!" At first I thought it was an accident. The phones just started ringing off the hook. Now I look back and think how selfish that was because we were tying up the air ways for anyone who was trying to get out of the wtc and call their loved ones to say goodbye. After we heard that the second one hit, we all piled around a window in disbelief. There were 2 huge holes with smoke piling out. I really felt like I was watching a really bad movie. We watched the rest of the events happen out the window. One woman I work with had a sister working there, she couldn't get ahold of her. She couldn't even speak, just frantically crying. Another woman's husband works for the FBI and he was there right after the first plane hit. He luckily made it out alive, but she has not been able to see him. A few other people couldn't even walk. Virtually everyone I know knew someone that at least worked in the area.

I work on 34th St, midtown. If you see pictures of the city I am right down the block from the empire state building. The city basically shut down. All tunnels, bridges, trains, etc, all closed. Macy's told us that if we wanted to leave we could but we would not be allowed back in. I had no where to go, so we just stayed put because I did not want to leave alone. I finally got ahold of my boyfriend patrick, which was not easy because all phone lines were tied. he was at someone's apt uptown, so I treked up there to meet him. We heard they were running the ferry to hoboken, so we left to try to get home and out of the city.

Normally there are mass people fighting and pushing their way to get home, but here it was a calm, somber crowd. the ferry line was 15 blocks long, but no one complained. as we rode the ferry, no one spoke, and everyone just stared in disbelief at the sight. Smoke was just billowing out. When we got across to hoboken, it looked like a war camp had been set up. everyone going anywhere in new jersey had to go to hoboken first, then take a bus or train. they made an announcement that everyone within a 10 block raidius of the WTC had to go thru detox, and everyone else had to wait. Then they made an announcement that everyone had to go thru detox. No one questioned why. We got off the ferry and then had to be sprayd by fire hoses to get any and all asbestos or other materials off of us. Work clothes, bags, purses, brief cases, every single person was sprayed. Then I had to walk 14 blocks home, soaking wet. But I had nothing to complain about.

The next morning, I woke up hoping everything would have just been a bad dream. I walked down to the park in which there was still a very black cloud over the city. I did not go to work. Everyone was quiet and you knew there was no one out that day that was not thinking about it. Most of the day yesterday was spent glued to the TV. It's weird because other tragedies happen in our country, but we are able to go on with our lives. How do you do that when it is right here in your backyard. And as time goes on, you hear in person more and more stories of what happened. And people also find out that people they know worked there and are missing. Patrick has found out that 2 friends of his and one of his cliets are gone.
I went to work yesterday with much trepidation. The tunnels were reopened, but very empty. Every truck going thru the tunnel was stopped and searched. Once, the tunnel stopped, and everyone begins to wonder why....even though stops in the tunnel are so normal. Walking down the street in new york, you could have walked in the middle of the road, for no one was driving. So I go to work, and try to get something done. Entirely impossible. Macy's was ordered by the mayor to please stay open, for some place for stranded tourists and others to go. Security was everywhere in our building, including bomb dogs. About 11am, I got a call from a coworker who had gone down to the sales floor. He said, "Steph I don't know what's going on, but everyone's evacuating down here." I started to tell people and then 2 men came running around, "GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT RIGHT NOW!" I didn't even question it, I was out the door. i ran down 18 flights of stairs, and I'm telling you, that was HARD. I was pannicked and shaking. I cannot imagine 100 or more flights. It turned out it was a bomb scare, which apparently happened over 90 times over the city yesterday. It truly is a sick world if people are thinking about doing something like that.

Today, I tried to go back to work again. Not easy at all. So many people are angry, or sad or solemn. I'm still in shock, and I'm very sad, but I'm also very scared. I don't know if its over. Who knows how they'd strike next. Last night I woke up to a booming, first thought is oh my god there's a bomb. It turned out to be thunder. Patrick left his cell phone at my aparmtnet, I hunted him down this morning to give it to him because if anything happened I wouldn't want him to be unable to call someone. i hear a siren go off and I jump. anyone says in my office," oh my god." i jump.

But i'm sad too. The woman who couldn't get ahold of her sister had to search hospital after hospital in new york to find her. she's okay. patrick lost 3 people he knows, possibly more. my best friend jen's dad was in that building, but got out safely. now he's out of a job for now. at jen's work, 2 co workers were on that flight. today we went through sample closets at work and pulled out pillows and blankets and comforters to give to the rescuemen who might need them to rest at the site. It made me feel good but so sad at the same time. I see people walking down the street crying. I hear people tell their accounts. I thank god that I didn't get hurt nor did anyone I know directly. And I do. But I also see how sad and scared everyone is here in new york.

But I also see the spirit and hope that people have here. People are so wonderful and nice. I was at the dock and watched a complete stranger hug another because one was crying. I continue to see how many people are getting involved. Patrick tryed to volunteer, but was turned away because they had too many people. Everyone here is just banning together.

Tonight I am going to a prayer vigil at 7. Please everyone, keep saying prayers. For those that have lost their lives, for those that may still be alive. For those men and women who are so dedicated to the cause, that they have not rested since tuesday. for those that are alone stranded unable to hug someone they love. for those children who've lost a parent, for those who've lost a husband, wive, daughter, son, brother, sister, friend, or coworker. If you've ever imagined your worst nightmare, the worst movie you've ever seen, its here in new york. Its an awful scene to see. I can only thank god that I'm okay and so is everyone I personally know.

Thank you for everyone who had thought of me during this time. I appreciate all your emails and attempts to get in touch. I wanted you all to know i'm okay. Just like all of you are, I'm attempting to make sense of it all.

Love and peace to all of you.

Stephanie

9/14/01

New York