puppetmaker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
puppetmaker) wrote2012-09-11 08:23 am
puppetmaker) wrote2012-09-11 08:23 am
9-11 Harder This Year than Last Year
New York City. I am putting it behind a cut so those who wish not to read it don’t have to
I know last year was the 10th anniversary and the like but I awoke this morning and looked outside. The day looks just like that morning 11 years ago when I got on the train and went to work. The sky is a brilliant blue. There is a slight fall chill in the air. And it is a Tuesday.
I remember that there was one point on the train ride into the city that you could look down a boulevard and see the towers at the end. That morning 11 years ago I happen to look up from my paper and see the twin towers gleaming in the distance. I had no idea it would be the last time I would see them. That morning my thought was more “what a postcard picture morning” it was.
I remember that morning when the first tower was hit and the slight concussive blast caused the security door I just keyed in the Bertelsmann Building to get into my floor to snap back on me and my fresh smoothie went all over my shoe. I didn’t know until later that is what happened but the timing was right.
I remember going back to the cafeteria to get another smoothie. Luiz didn’t charge me for it because she knew I was telling the truth. While she was mixing it up, one of the kitchen workers came out speaking rapidly in Spanish. Luiz translated for me that he said a small plane had hit one of the twin towers. At that time we thought small private plane tragic accident. Little did we know.
I remember we were all huddled in the publicity department because they had a TV and watched the coverage. We saw the second plane hit and the signal go away. I manage to get NPR up on my computer so we had news during the day.
I remember getting home after a long time on the subway and the train. I remember a woman getting on covered in dust and in shock. She was bleeding but she didn’t realize that she was. There was a doctor on the train who, with the help of two other people, got her off at the next stop where there was a hospital. It took them a lot of convincing to get her to get off the train with them. All she wanted to do was get home “to her babies” as she put it.
I will always remember the relief on Peter’s face when I finally got home. I remember the relief I felt that day in getting home.
Since then I have been promoting on 9-11 a project called “I Will” which remembers this day and those we lost with good deeds and charitable works. You can find the website here. I have made my pledge this day to remember.
This morning I am remembering too much. There are changes. I am no longer working in the city so no train this morning. I have a daughter who was not alive when this all happened. My life has gone on but mornings like this that look like that morning on the same day of the week that it happened make me stop for a moment and remember. And I know that I will never forget.
I am grateful that I did make it home that day.
I know last year was the 10th anniversary and the like but I awoke this morning and looked outside. The day looks just like that morning 11 years ago when I got on the train and went to work. The sky is a brilliant blue. There is a slight fall chill in the air. And it is a Tuesday.
I remember that there was one point on the train ride into the city that you could look down a boulevard and see the towers at the end. That morning 11 years ago I happen to look up from my paper and see the twin towers gleaming in the distance. I had no idea it would be the last time I would see them. That morning my thought was more “what a postcard picture morning” it was.
I remember that morning when the first tower was hit and the slight concussive blast caused the security door I just keyed in the Bertelsmann Building to get into my floor to snap back on me and my fresh smoothie went all over my shoe. I didn’t know until later that is what happened but the timing was right.
I remember going back to the cafeteria to get another smoothie. Luiz didn’t charge me for it because she knew I was telling the truth. While she was mixing it up, one of the kitchen workers came out speaking rapidly in Spanish. Luiz translated for me that he said a small plane had hit one of the twin towers. At that time we thought small private plane tragic accident. Little did we know.
I remember we were all huddled in the publicity department because they had a TV and watched the coverage. We saw the second plane hit and the signal go away. I manage to get NPR up on my computer so we had news during the day.
I remember getting home after a long time on the subway and the train. I remember a woman getting on covered in dust and in shock. She was bleeding but she didn’t realize that she was. There was a doctor on the train who, with the help of two other people, got her off at the next stop where there was a hospital. It took them a lot of convincing to get her to get off the train with them. All she wanted to do was get home “to her babies” as she put it.
I will always remember the relief on Peter’s face when I finally got home. I remember the relief I felt that day in getting home.
Since then I have been promoting on 9-11 a project called “I Will” which remembers this day and those we lost with good deeds and charitable works. You can find the website here. I have made my pledge this day to remember.
This morning I am remembering too much. There are changes. I am no longer working in the city so no train this morning. I have a daughter who was not alive when this all happened. My life has gone on but mornings like this that look like that morning on the same day of the week that it happened make me stop for a moment and remember. And I know that I will never forget.
I am grateful that I did make it home that day.
no subject
At least, it doesn't seem like politicians are milking 9/11 this year the way they have in years past. That always enraged me.