story8347.xml

story8347.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-10-03

It was such a beautiful morning, I was in a good mood traveling to work. I worked for a large Financial Services Firm and had just kicked off our campus recruiting season. The night before we had our first campus presentation at Rutgers University. I remember the sky opened up and it poured like crazy! Regardless the presentation to the students was successful, and it motivated me to charge ahead with this new season. The week prior and the week of the 11th I had meetings scheduled with our management team in preparation for their roles at the different campus events. September 6th was the last time I trudged through WTC to 222 Broadway for one of those meetings. I had intended to return to 222 on 9/11 in the am, but thought since the first presentation was the night before, and knew it would be a long day, I postponed it to 9/13. Had I not, I would have been stepping off the PATH train into the WTC at a time of utter chaos. Instead I was driving to the Light Rail in Jersey City, when I noticed smoke pouring out of the WTC after the first plane hit. I wasn't quite sure what I was looking at, but proceeded to park and get on the train that would take me to 101 Hudson St. directly across the river from WTC. In the process I called me husband (NYPD OFFICER) who was at home thank GOD, to see if anything was on the news, but nothing yet; then there was breaking news, but we still couldn't comprehend what was happening, so I told him I'd call him later. As we rode the train, we all were staring out the window at the WTC. A few times the train stopped, we got off then back on. Finally the train wouldn't go any further, and we walked the rest of the way to our building. I then saw both towers burning, and people running. I went into my building, and saw from the window the towers burning. An image that was so horrific I've blocked it from my mind. I was scared then, called my husband and left the building. I eventually made it to my car, turned around and saw the first tower fall, or so I thought. Then I drove like a mad woman to get home to my husband, not knowing when I'd be able to see him, only to get stuck in Bayonne because the bridge was closed. I pleaded with him on the phone not to go into the city, but he had other concerns as he hadn't heard from his brother (also NYPD) who was working downtown.
Thankfully I can say we all were unscathed, aside from the horrible memories and lasting images and sadness from that day. It truly was surreal to see people crying, running, towers burning. It was truly in slow motion. We all know someone that perished, neighbor, friend; it's still so unbelievable. I just hope people can stay strong and committed to each other as they were during the early stages of this horror. GOD BLESS AMERICA......