story11122.xml

story11122.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2004-10-17

I need to preface my story by saying that my husband and I were in NYC on Sept 8th, 2001. We stayed at the Marriot Marquis because we could not get rooms at the World Trade Center(my husband was quite disappointed as WTC was his favorite place to stay in the city and he lamented about how much he wanted me to see the view). This was my first time in NYC. My husband and his brother went to a Yankee's game and I spent the day exploring the city with my brother in law's girlfriend. Our best friends also made the trip. We had a great time and on Sunday morning we toyed with the idea of extending our stay. We wanted to try and get tickets to the Yankee's games either on Monday or Tuesday. Unbenownst to us, our decision to leave that Sunday was the best thing we ever did...I was working from home on September 11, 2001. My husband called me and told me to turn on the television. We were both silent as I watched the image of Tower 1 burning. I cannot recall what we said after that. I do recall thinking about my friends and family who worked and lived in or near Manhattan. The next thing that I remember was seeing the image of the first tower falling. As I fell to my knees, wailing, I dropped the phone. I could not imagine that what I was seeing was real. When I found the phone again and uttered something unitelligable I got no response. There was no one there. I hit the hang up button and ran to get my address book. I dialed numbers over and over and never got through. My terror escalated. My next thought was for my boss. She was slated for a meeting in D.C. at the Pentagon. All I could think about was her daughter. Did she know? Was someone with her? I called the office and the secretary answered. She said the she did't know anything. I told her I'd call back soon and was getting ready to go out the the door when my my husband burst through the front door. We embraced, both crying openly. He looked up and uttered one name. I grabbed the phone and dialed as fast as could will my fingers to move. My best friend answered immediately. Was there any news about her sister who worked in Manhattan? Tearfully, she answered no. She said that no one could get through by telephone. My husband and I went to get her and we ended up at a local restaurant. We sat at the bar amongst other silent patrons. We all watched the televisions. I remember crying and crying. All of a sudden someone grabbed me from behind. It was my mother. She was crying, like the rest of us. She hugged me harder, held me tighter than ever in my life. She gasped how happy she was that we had decided to come home from NYC that past Sunday. We all sat at the restaurant bar until it closed, probably later, I'm not sure. We were all dazed. I didn't know which way was up. How could something like this have happened on U.S. soil? Would we EVER be safe EVER again? The days that followed were filled with relief at the news of the safety of my friends and family (as well as my boss) but more so they were filled with the sorrow of the news of the loss of so many lives. A close friend of mine works for FEMA and she went to NYC to help. When she returned she recounted stories of horror and heartache. I want to send my love and my prayers to all those who were in NYC, D.C. and Philly. We will never forget is a phrase that has been uttered millions upon millions of times in the past 3 years. "We will never forget" means different things to different people. To me it means that I will remember those who lost their lives that day and I will continue to pray for those who were left behind. My love to you all forever.