story7711.xml

story7711.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-17

A letter I wrote to my family on September 11, 2001.

Dear Family,

It is 4am and I can't sleep. I have to go to work tomorrow but I can't sleep. What happened today was the most horrific tragedy that any of us could have imagined. I can't imgagine ever feeling the same about our safety here in the U.S.. I guess this is what it feels like to live in less fortunate countries where terrorism is something they live with. For so long we felt invincible and untouchable.

Today was the first time I thanked God that you have all moved away from New York. And that Aunt Reggie was not in the city on this tragic day.
My heart bleeds for the people who were lost in this mess. All the fire fighters and cops, and all those people who are still hoping to see their friends and family members again.

I am wondering what it will be like for you to come home and see the skyline forever changed. I am wondering what it will be like for me to see it for myself. I don't think I will be going to see it for a while. It is too sad.
I have tried to call Dad and Aunt Jo but couldn't get through. So I stopped trying to make long distance calls.
I was able to call locally and was able to reach Mom. I wonder if Alexi and Dave will still be able to come back to the U.S. from Bahrain? I am sure Dave has a lot to do now. I wish Dave all the safety in the world. I hope he will not be needed in any battles.

I always knew that our city could be a target for this kind of thing. But who would think that anything this huge would happen?

Thank God I don't know anyone that was working in those buildings. But I know many people who had friends there.
Work today was awful. I was sitting at my desk when Kevin called me with the news that a plane had crashed into one of the Twin Towers. I got off the phone and found the first person I saw and told them what I had learned. They told me to go to the conference room where the news was showing on a television. As I watched the flames coming from the first building I never imagined what was coming next. I was shocked as the second plane crashed into the next tower. I prayed to myself that everyone would get out of the buildings. I was certain at this point it was no accident and that we were being attacked. When the first tower fell I just remember crying. I knew that many had died at that point. When the second building fell I was in shock. I was holding my breath waiting for another attack. I was worried about my boss who was in the city that day. But we soon got a call from him as he walked out of the city over one of the bridges.
Everyone around me in that room was in shock. Some people were crying others ran out of the room to make phone calls.
One girl was hysterical saying her cousins were N.Y. fire fighters.
It was just awful. As we learned about the Pentagon attack and the plane that crashed in the field and we tried to digest what was happening. We stared at that television waiting for the next unbelievable and unthinkable event to happen.

We got to leave work early. I tried to find an American Flag somewhere on my way home. I was having no luck. I felt bad that it took this tragedy for me to buy a flag. I just felt a need to get one. I went to many stores. Than I saw a guy outside of Sears. He had a big flag tied to the back of his truck. He was also holding a small flag in his hand. I asked him where he got it. He said I got it in Sears but it was the last one. He said "Here you take it".
I did and thanked him. I held it out the window all the way home. People blew their horns and gave me thumbs up. As I sat at a light in front of a school there was a Mother walking with a her young daughter. Her Mom pointed to me and said to her "look the American flag". And she waved to me. A man marched up and down Deer Park Avenue holding a big flag and yelled to me to join him. I didn't, I had to get home. The best thing about our flag today is that it made people smile. It made people realize that we are Americans and together we will stand.

After I went home I headed to a blood bank. The line was so long. The blood bank was in the same strip mall where the Aide Auto Store used to be. And the line reached all the way back to the Melville bowling alley. People kept on coming. We put our names on a list. They couldn't handle the amount of people who showed up. The spirit was good. People comforted each other and really pulled together. Many people donated water, orange juice and cookies to the blood bank. They handed it out to the people on line. As we stood there, a car drove past us with 2 young guys and one of them yelled "kill the Arabs!" Nobody cheered.

I want to cry but I know it won't do any good. It is so sad. I am left just hoping that this is all over. I want to tell you that I love you very much. I don't think there will be any more of this.

Kevin and I had dinner with our landlords. They were very upset too. Tom is a teacher and started to cry when he explained to us what it was like having to tell his students what had happened. Many of their parents work in the city.

You could see the smoke all the way out here on the Island. Tonight the sky is so clear. I am left with a horrible feeling that this is not the end. I pray it is. I just want to share with you what it was like to be here. I feel that even though it is the most horrible thing that could happen. The people here are joining together. It is amazing thing to witness. I love you and will talk to you soon.

Love,
Gina