... exactly where I was eleven years ago tonight. Finally, home.
In the morning I had stood at a window at our building on lower Broadway and in horror had watched the second Tower of the World Trade Center collapse. The sky went completely black. It was at this moment that I realized that it was possible that my death could be imminent, and asked G'd for more time. I was grateful for the life that I had, but I prayed for more time. Shortly after that my colleagues and I were evacuated out of our building six blocks south of the Trade Center. My friend Sandy and I began the long walk uptown. We walked to Grand Central Station where Sandy took a train to Westchester -- amazingly trains were running. I walked across Manhattan and took a bus -- amazingly, too, buses were running in the Northern areas of Manhattan -- to a friend's house. Ultimately, I would walk halfway home from my office in Lower Manhattan to my apartment on the Upper West Side. Smoke hung over the city and if you could see all the way downtown you would see the fires still burning. The smoke rose for months at the site where the Trade Center had stood and there was ash all around. I was stunned, shocked and very grateful to be alive.
My shock has turned to profound sorrow and I am still very grateful to be alive. To the memory of those who were not so fortunate -- in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. You will never be forgotten.
In the morning I had stood at a window at our building on lower Broadway and in horror had watched the second Tower of the World Trade Center collapse. The sky went completely black. It was at this moment that I realized that it was possible that my death could be imminent, and asked G'd for more time. I was grateful for the life that I had, but I prayed for more time. Shortly after that my colleagues and I were evacuated out of our building six blocks south of the Trade Center. My friend Sandy and I began the long walk uptown. We walked to Grand Central Station where Sandy took a train to Westchester -- amazingly trains were running. I walked across Manhattan and took a bus -- amazingly, too, buses were running in the Northern areas of Manhattan -- to a friend's house. Ultimately, I would walk halfway home from my office in Lower Manhattan to my apartment on the Upper West Side. Smoke hung over the city and if you could see all the way downtown you would see the fires still burning. The smoke rose for months at the site where the Trade Center had stood and there was ash all around. I was stunned, shocked and very grateful to be alive.
My shock has turned to profound sorrow and I am still very grateful to be alive. To the memory of those who were not so fortunate -- in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. You will never be forgotten.
4 comments
Oh dear friend, I can't imagine living it all! I watched on TV and tears fell from my eyes! HUGS to you dear friend, I am thankful you were given another day:)
Buttercup, I was in shock myself and I was no where near the attacks. I can only think of the horror that you and so many others saw. I am glad you are here and doing well. No man is an island, you have touched many hearts.xo, Susie
I was watching this on the History Channel last night and it was so much more real than any newscasters portrayed it. Like your post, there was human emotion in the documentary. Thank you for sharing your personal experience.
There are so many stories that came out of those awful days. I'm glad that yours is one of the less painful ones!
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