The day of 9/11/01 will be always in our minds and our hearts. For many of us living in the Tri-State area, we were directly affected by the attacks on the World Trade Center as well as the Pentagon. When I was teaching, I would have my students write about their experience of 9/11 because I know how I was affected by it as a 25 year old and felt it was important for teenagers and young 20 somethings to be able to express themselves about this horrible memory either through the written word, the spoken word or through art.
My memory: I was sitting on our couch in Fair Lawn. NJ IM chatting with my brother-in-law who worked by the Pentagon and my mother-in-law called. The day was sunny with a cool breeze in the air. My mother-in-law and I were discussing last minute wedding plans since Aaron and I were set to be married on 9-30-01 at The Rockleigh Country Club.
The TV was on, turned to Fox 5, “Good Day New York,” as the camera panned up and showed the smoke from the first plane that crashed into the first Tower. The reporter wasn’t sure what it was and thought maybe a fire. As the camera was still focused in on the first Tower on fire, the second plane hit and my mother-in-law and I sat in silence and both agreed we were being attacked. And no we weren’t calm. Then we heard about the Pentagon and I assured her I was speaking to my brother-in-law, her son, just a few minutes ago so go and try to reach him and then call us back. Aaron’s oldest brother worked in the Towers and saw the first plane hit and told his entire office to get the hell out NOW! He took off and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge back home to be safe.
I got off the phone with my mother-in-law, still sitting on my couch in Fair Lawn, called Aaron and I couldn’t get through to him. He was working in Short HIlls, NJ at the time. Called and woke my mother up telling her to turn on the TV NOW! She did and said, “I have to call Uncle Joey; I’ll call you back.” My cousins worked in the Towers so for hours that day we couldn’t get in touch with either of them. Aaron finally got in touch with me and he was heading home from work early that day.
All day we didn’t hear back from my cousins and finally toward the evening my mother called telling us that they were safe. They just returned from their honeymoon, came out of the NY Subway, looked up, saw the smoke, and ran right back into the Subway to get away. Aaron’s brother in DC was also safe we found out later that day. All we could do was be grateful that all our family members were save from the attacks on 9/11. The fear we all felt that day will never be forgotten as the ones who lost their lives. Please take a few moments of silence today to remember 9/11.
Please share your memories and thoughts with us.
