11/09/2024
Every year on this day we remember and we must tell our stories to educate and pay tribute to those that made the ultimate sacrifice.
For years I have talked about TIME and how it was woven into the events of September 11th. Today marks the 23rd Anniversary and every year I need to talk about time and what I remember from that day.
I was so lucky that nobody I knew died that day and all I had to deal with was fear of how to get from NYC back home to NJ that day.
It was a beautiful sunny day with the bluest sky’s (I even wore a white top, but more about that later) and in a little more than a month I was going to celebrate my 1-year wedding anniversary with my husband Mark.
While he worked in NJ once a month or so he would need to go into the main office which was right next to the World Trade Center Complex. We usually left early and would have breakfast together by his office and then I would hop on the train to go over to my office on 21st Street. For some reason on that day, I woke up way too early and he was sleeping so soundly I did not have heart to wake him.
I was on the train commuting into NYC and I remember seeing the twin towers in the distance (wonderful views from the Hoboken train station) and saying I needed to bring my camera and take some photos tomorrow). Before I was married, for about 7 years I lived 4 blocks away from the Twin Towers with my mom who is still living there today. Now living in NJ, I would come in early before work and stop by to chat and see her before heading over to the office. I almost stopped by to see her on 9/11 but wanted to head into the office early because I had some work to catch up on and all of the bosses were going to be out at an early morning meeting.
I remember seeing on the internet once the first plane hit, and we set up a tv in one of the conference rooms and just could not believe our eyes. What was even more freaky was you were watching the events unfold live on tv and we could look out one of the windows and see the twin towers in the distance.
I knew my husband was now on his way into the city but I could not reach him. I kept busy because many of the wives were calling me to verify that the meeting was not at the WTC. Luckily the meeting was in midtown near Radio City.
I was able to reach my mom and she said if you have trouble getting back to NJ come and stay with me. Mom was a civilian who worked with NYC Police Department at One Police Plaza. She was on her way into the office when the first tower fell and because it was a nice day she had left the windows open so you can imagine what she came back to. It took 6 months for the EPA to send someone to see if she needed any cleanup help. I do remember the phone lines were down (it took about 6 months to get the phone lines up and running again).
Finally, Mark left me a message saying his train got into Hoboken just before the first tower had hit. He was lucky and was able to take a train back home and never made it into NYC that day.
Our bosses finally got back to the office and slowly by the early afternoon everyone left to make the trek back home. I was waiting for my boss Steven King as we both needed to find a way to get back to Hoboken. By now both towers had fallen and I could no longer reach mom but saw the devastation that had occurred in the area and thought it would be easier to make my way back to Hoboken to get a train home.
The only transportation that was running to NJ was from Pier 79 located on W39th Street. Subways had been closed so we set out on foot. After only a few minutes a bus came by and asked us if we needed a ride. We finally reach the pier and If you have ever been to Disney World when it was crowded you can imagine how long the lines were, people wrapping around each other. It was going to take us hours to get on a boat, so I stood at the back of the line while Steven found a spot nearby to work on his computer.
Earlier that day before we began our trek home he said to me “Elaine, don’t worry I always have the luck of the Irish” and those words were never so true. First a bus stops, so we did not have to walk and then I was only on the line for maybe 10 minutes when it just surged forward and because we were far in the back of the line, we were very close to the entrance and all of a sudden we were both on the boat heading to Hoboken.
Etched in my mind, I will always remember being on that boat and looking back at the skyline that was once lower Manhattan and all you could see was smoke where the towers once stood.
As we were approaching Hoboken they handed out plastic bags so you could store your pocketbooks or briefcases etc. Once we docked it looked like a scene out of the movie Outbreak. There were white tents all over the pier area and they were hosing everyone down. Now, I am not a modest person but I was wearing a white top and there was no way I was getting my front hosed down LOL. I know but that was the first time I had smiled all day.
They did get my back and my head so I looked like a drowned rat so ok there was that. They had doctors checking everyone out. I said goodbye to Steve and waited on the train platform.
Just as I arrived they had opened up the Path trains from NYC and they were just letting people through and so many were asking me why I was so wet and what had happened.
I finally made it home about 6:30PM that day hugged my husband so thankful that he never made it into the city that day. It was just so sad once you realized all those that never made it home that night to hug their loved ones. They closed the office for the rest of the week, I just sat in front of the TV just numb. Going into NYC the next week the skyline had now changed forever with the Twin Towers gone.
For maybe about 6 months, the city was so quiet, everyone was so friendly no taxis were hocking their horns, yes there was a sadness of course but it felt like that everyone had bonded together.
And now 23 years later so many things have changed. Everyone’s stories must continue to be told to honor those that were murdered, to honor the hero’s that ran into the towers while others were running out, those at The Pentagon and all of those that were on the four flights, especially on Flight 93 that fought back to make sure the terrorists did not hit their target. We must never forget!
