Eight years ago today.. (My story) - nyisles16's Blog

nyisles16's Blog

Eight years ago today.. (My story)

Posted on September 11, 2009 at 02:48 AM.

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Eight years ago today, I was awaking to a bright sunny day, and a trip to go to clean out my car (it was totaled) and do some research in the library on a new car.

Usually, on my off days at work (still to this day), I sleep late (probably till about 9:30 - 10am), but work up just before 9 am this day. First thing I did was flip on the TV to watch SportCenter highlights or the local news here on Channel 12. Imagine my shock when I saw the sight of black smoke pouring out of the top floors of one of the World Trade Center towers. I sat there, just staring at the tv screen wondering what had happened. Stories poured in about some little plane or helicopter that crashed into the towers.

At the same time, my dad ran up the stairs and we both were watching the news now on the downstairs TV. I can remember now watching the news on WNBC, seeing the second explosion thinking the pieces from the first tower may have have hit the second -- when my dad said -- "no, that was another plane"..

While stunned to see what was going on, I had to get going so that I could clean out my car. I couldn't tell you much of what I read in the library - as everyone was glued to the TV as well. But I'll never forget the trip home from parting ways with my beloved '96 Pontiac Grand Am.

On the way home in my rental car, I was tuned into the radio, and just had heard that the Pentagon was hit. My best friend served in the Navy and worked in the Pentagon at the time. I never felt so scared and frightened and actually began to panic and cry thinking the worst had happened. Several attempts to reach my buddy never went through - until about the 8th call or so. My friend was ok, and managed to be home from work at the time -- telling me that he saw the plane fly right over his base, and how it felt like an earthquake when it smacked into the building. Relieved, I then began to call his parents (as they couldn't reach him) to relay the news.

But the one thing I will never forget that day was seeing my mom walk in the front door from work, crying, and hugging each one of us just a bit tighter than usual - thankful that all of us were ok.

To this day, I still remember the events like it was just yesterday. Seeing the towers collapse (and sometimes to this day I have nightmares about it) just was a surreal sight. Unfortunately, I later learned I knew several people killed in the attacks - Ray Downey (went through school with his daughter), John and Joe Vigiano (one's wife was my math tutor, the other was a bus driver for my brother), one of the court officers killed in WTC 7 collapse (I worked with his wife at my first job), and someone else I knew from my first job who was in the towers when they fell. My dad also was to be in a meeting that day in Met Life -- but luckily it was cancelled a few days before.

This day had a profound change on my life, as now I never go a day without telling my family how much I love them -- cause you never know if there will not be a tomorrow. My hope is that you all do the same, and just take that extra minute today to remember those innocent victims, and the heroes, who perished in the attacks.