08-01-2002, 04:45 PM
I was on the SI ferry that morning, on my way to work. As per the usual, I had my cd player/headphones on, reading the paper. After a few minutes, I saw people run to the left side of the boat. Mind you, I can't hear a thing, so I'm thinking "some asshole went and jumped overboard - now I'm gonna be late for work". Anyway, after 2 mins and the boat not stopping, I deicde to walk over and see whats attracting everyone's attention - and I look up to see the fire pouring out of the tower. By this time, only the first tower had been hit. Not 2 minutes later, the second plane flew overhead - and low - and proceeded to hit the second tower. If you remember or ever see the footage of the 2nd plane hitting the tower with the water behind the angle, and a ferry in the lower right hand corner - that's where I was.
Initially, my eyes were in denial. It didn't register at all. But once the boat turned around and hauled ass back to SI it started to sink in. What I kept thinking (then) was "why didn't we turn around sooner? were they seriously going to dock?".
Once I got back on the island we were herded like cattle onto the trains and buses (I got the train, which I normally too home) and went right back home. It was a surreal vision to watch the towers smolder from the ferry, and then from the train. By the time I got home and turned on the tv, I made it just in time to see the first tower come down - and I never felt a more empty-feeling inside me. Suffice it to say, I had serious trouble sleeping for a while. I still have nightmares of seeing the plane hit the building, and I end up waking in a cold sweat.
I wouldn't say I've gotten over it, but I'm better - I've accepted what happened, and I only hope something gets put there that not only replaces the towers, but reflects our resolve as a people to show that you can't knock us down.
What really kind of drove me crazy was when I realized the towers were no more and all those people died, I thought of my dad. He passed away 11 years ago at a very young age, but he used to work for Shearson Lehman in the WTC. I kept thinking "even if we managed to save him before, he probably would've been gone anyway, and in a much more horrific manner". So in a weird way, I'm glad he wasn't around when this happened - I can't imagine the pain these people felt/are still feeling by not having a recovered body to bury for closure.
Initially, my eyes were in denial. It didn't register at all. But once the boat turned around and hauled ass back to SI it started to sink in. What I kept thinking (then) was "why didn't we turn around sooner? were they seriously going to dock?".
Once I got back on the island we were herded like cattle onto the trains and buses (I got the train, which I normally too home) and went right back home. It was a surreal vision to watch the towers smolder from the ferry, and then from the train. By the time I got home and turned on the tv, I made it just in time to see the first tower come down - and I never felt a more empty-feeling inside me. Suffice it to say, I had serious trouble sleeping for a while. I still have nightmares of seeing the plane hit the building, and I end up waking in a cold sweat.
I wouldn't say I've gotten over it, but I'm better - I've accepted what happened, and I only hope something gets put there that not only replaces the towers, but reflects our resolve as a people to show that you can't knock us down.
What really kind of drove me crazy was when I realized the towers were no more and all those people died, I thought of my dad. He passed away 11 years ago at a very young age, but he used to work for Shearson Lehman in the WTC. I kept thinking "even if we managed to save him before, he probably would've been gone anyway, and in a much more horrific manner". So in a weird way, I'm glad he wasn't around when this happened - I can't imagine the pain these people felt/are still feeling by not having a recovered body to bury for closure.