Monday, September 11, 2006

9/11

I think that about now was the time I was coming home 5 years ago after getting my 9:30am physical done for my employment. It's hard to believe that 9/11 happened 5 years ago. I still continue to think what ifs about that time. I was supposed to have originally gotten married to Sal on May 19, 2001. If I had, would I have left my job at the end of August? The job which was about 3 blocks away from the towers. I know that if I hadn't quit my job, I would have been there when the planes hit and would have been in the rubble, because I would have been in shock and wouldn't necessarily have moved out of the way of the towers when they collapsed. What if I didn't resign from my job at the end of August and waited until HR contacted me regarding my new position? Would I have been there that faithful morning or would I have been getting a physical done? Would I be alive or would I be among the remains because I was trying to help?
Even though I'm not a huge believer in God or whatever is looking over us, I do feel that something was looking over me when I put in my resignation and took me away from downtown.
Looking back at 9/11 and trying to escape Manhattan, I remember attempting to call my parents and once I did, all I told my mother was that I was fine and I would call her later. I attempted to call my roommate/boyfriend Shondu who worked near Union Square and saw it happen to let him know that I was on my way to him. His end of the conversation was, especially after walking about 30 blocks was for me to head home. I lived in the Bronx then. So back uptown it was-people walking in the streets, helping others, and no violence. I finally made it to the Metro-North, which happen to free under the circumstances, and made it to a stop near my house, then I took the bus. Once I got home, I was anxiously awaiting Shondu's return home as the subways were barely working. I watched the news and just remembered that when I was waiting for the doctor and heard about the first plane, I knew immediately that it was a terrorist act.
To all of the EMS, FDNY, NYPD and everyone else who gave their lives or their spare time on that day and following to help NYC rebuild, I thank you.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's interesting how there are forks in the road in our lives which seem so innocent at the time but looking back are really quite significant. Glad you're okay.

Joanne said...

there is so much emotion built into what happened on 9/11/01 - i'm a native ny'r and used to work on the 99th fl of 2WTC and sitting in MA and watching those towers fall broke everything i had inside....

i remember the view from the 99th floor - looking uptown and seeing everything...

i suppose reflection is a way to look at where we are, where we were and be thankful....

glad you are here today to keep up with your blog...