REMEMBERING 9/11
Today is Monday, September 11, 2023. I am watching and listening to the televised Remembering 9/11 on CBS. As I hear the names being read by those who lost loved ones on that day, Tuesday, September 11, 2001. I hear those reading the list of names give tribute to their own family members they lost on that day; and from those family members born after the 9/11 attacks. Comments made in honor of family lost on that day recognizing them as heroes, keeping their memories alive in their hearts, expressing how much they are loved and missed, grateful for the short amount of time spent with them, showing their patriotism to their country, expressing gratefulness in family sharing stories and media of those they never met, and reliving feelings and emotions in tears. Although I did not lose any family, the memory of that day on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, is still etched forever in my mind and heart. The following is what I experienced that day.
My friend and I left our apartment at 7:30 in the morning to travel from New Jersey to New York City to our places of employment. We took the bus, then transferred to the PATH train on into the World Trade Center. My friend worked on Wall Street, and I had to continue on my way to my office in Brooklyn. I transferred to the NYC Subway and switched subway trains in Brooklyn to continue to my destination. While waiting on the platform to ride into Brooklyn, over the loudspeaker I heard that there was a major incident that occurred in Manhattan and there would be delays in service. The subway arrived, I got off at my stop and walked to my office. One of my staff entered with me and our desk telephones rang at the same time. I answered my telephone and my friend said, “Thank God, you are there. The World Trade Center was just hit.” As my friend was saying this, I saw the same expression on my staff member’s face as was on mine; her husband called her with the news. To think, I had just left the World Trade Center 15 minutes before the first plane hit the North Tower.
The television was turned on in the Family Room in our office where our family programs meet with family for preventive care. No work was being done that day. I had my flip cell phone and tried to call my mother in Philadelphia to let her know that I was okay. My mother knew that I traveled through the World Trade Center remembering her previous weekend visit with me. I could not get through due to busy lines; no one in my office could. I kept trying until I got my mother’s answering machine and just left a message saying I was okay.
We kept watching the television, saw the second tower get hit, heard the Pentagon get hit and the plane crash in Shanksville. All travel, public and vehicles to and from Manhattan was suspended. This meant that I would not be able to get back home to New Jersey. This meant that I would not be able to get into Manhattan to meet my friend who was to have a dialysis treatment that day. I would always meet my friend after work at the dialysis clinic and wait for him to be done by 10:30 pm to accompany him home. On this day, a day of shock, terrorism and trauma for people, nothing was normal and what to expect to happen next was uncertain. This day was totally in God’s hands.
Knowing that I might not be getting home to New Jersey, my supervisor offered a place for the night in her home. Feeling uncomfortable and not wanting to cross boundaries in my working relationships, I thanked her and stated I would let her know. My supervisor’s supervisor then informed me that I would be able to stay overnight with her staff at the women’s shelter. Again, thanking her for the offer I said I would let her know; I prefer to be in my own home. By 7:00 pm my friend was able to call me from the dialysis clinic to tell me that a limited subway service was operating.
Thankfully, the subway I would take into Manhattan was one operating on limited service. Relieved that I did not have to stay at the women’s shelter of at my supervisor’s home, I left to go into Manhattan and walked to my friend’s dialysis clinic. Our next concern was how we would get to New Jersey to get home. By 10:30 pm we heard that there was a ferry leaving Manhattan for New Jersey. We decided to make the very long walk from the dialysis clinic to ferry and ride home to New Jersey. The next morning, Wednesday, I was called and informed that I did not have to go to work; travel to and from NYC was enforced.
The televised Remembering 9/11 is almost finished. Along with those reading the names of loved ones lost in 9/11 and remembering their stories and sharing their memories, feelings, and emotions I have now shared my story; remembering 9/11 and relived as if it was just yesterday. To those families who lost loved ones, may God continue to comfort you, give you peace and strengthen you each day as you remember.
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