I crossed the streeet and went into my building and our elevator man Walter told me about the planes hitting the Towers. I got up to my office, called my parents and told them to put on the tv & told them what I knew thus far. My Dad asked if I was ok and I said, yes, so far. HE said "be careful" and we got off the phone. Shortly thereafter the hones went down.
I went down to our 14th floor office to take a look and watched in horror at the burning Towers. I just remember being amazed at how huge the flames were and how black the smoke was. I crossed myself and then said to the guy (Britten) standing next to me, "Osma bin Laden did this." He said, "who?" and I said, "Osmama f---ing bin Laden did this - only the worst terrorist in the world - and we're at war and it's never going to end."
I then found out about the Pentagon and went and told my boss Kris and she said to go home. We hugged and everyone started to make their way out. At that time they decided to evacuate our building so we had to leave. I couldn'e get home since the city was on basic lockdown (all the subways were suspended) so I walked. On the way out of the building I watched the first Tower fall. THAT sticks in my soul. I was numb and in awe and really scared and pissed off at the same time.
I went to my co-workers apartment on 10th Street for a bit but got ansy and just wanted to get home so I walked uptown towaards the 59th St. bridge. It was surreal. The city was calm, quiet (with tthe exception of the emergency vehicle sirens now and then) and it was hot, sunny and an exceptionally gorgeous day. (I remember earlier in the morning - before I knew any of this was happening -wishing I had worn a skirt rather than the long pants I was wearing.)
SO I walked until I got to the tunnel and at that point they had reopened it to outgoing traffic and the police were having people take pedestrians trying to get to Queens through. I got a ride from a nice man wearing a big white cowboy hat. IHe let me out in Forest Hills near the Queensborough Center Mall. I walked home to Ridgewood from there - slightly sunburned, exhausted, freaked out and really, really angry.
I saw a lot of amazing things that day and a lot of horrifying things. I think about it often but I realize how lucky I personally am because I was OK and the 20 or so people I know who were actually down at the Towers (or right nearby) all made it out.
After that day I started to educate myslef about islam and there freaks who want us all dead.
Oops - just noticed all of my typos. Sorry about that. I am tired. I got up so early today - and I think it’s because of what day it is. I couldn’t sleep...