9-11-2002 - One year later

[Arthur Dent]

I finally watched the Ch. 2 and the HBO documentaries that aired a few months ago. I was in London when they aired and just couldn't bring myself to sit down and watch them until now.

Wish I could say it brought it all back, but it never left to begin with.

I was walking to the office and saw a bunch of people stop on a corner and look south toward the WTC. I looked expecting to see something like lights or balloons or something, but there was nothing. I looked at my watch and realised it was 8:46, the time the first plane hit. One year ago, I was still in the train tunnel and didn't know anything had happened.

My office is having a bit of a memorial. There are TV's set up and a breakfast served on one floor where people are gathered watching the reading of the names at Ground Zero right now. I went for a few minutes to get a bagel and watch a bit of the coverage. Took at least 15 minutes just to get to the c's.

At 9:03, they rang a bell twice to signal the time the second plane hit. One year ago, I was in the building lobby waiting for an elevator. I heard the impact.

I've told the story of what i saw a few times now and don't really want to rehash it again.