Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

I remember the maternity shirt and capris I was wearing that day.

I remember my friend came into my classroom to tell me that she would watch my students...for me to call my husband.

I remember walking down to the office, people giving me a sympathetic and worried look, and me not knowing why.

I remember calling his office, and first getting voicemail. Calling back and getting a busy signal.

I remember overhearing a school aide saying the second tower was hit.

I remember my principal coming out and bringing me water.

I remember hearing, for the first time, what had happened.

I remember my brother and mother coming to my school, to pick me up, and bringing me to my Grandparents' house.

I remember what my beloved and DEARLY MISSED grandfather said to me. Still in the early stages of Alzheimer's...he told me "Baby doll, this is the starts of a war." He was a WWII vet...he knew.

I remember my MIL calling me, to tell me the second tower fell. The tower where my husband worked on the 69th floor as an accountant. The tower that held my life. The father of my unborn child. The man that was my everything from the day I met him in 1992. My husband of 4 years (at that time). That tower held my heart.

I remember getting back in my brother's car, to go to my parents' house. I thought that IF Russ was alive, he wouldn't be able to find me (my cell was dead), but he would call my mother's house. This was my logic, and the only thing keeping me sane.

I remember going to my mother's house in Glendale, Queens. The house I grew up in. On the block where everyone knew me from when I was a baby. The block where everyone knew that my husband was missing.

I remember people on their stoops, running over to me when I got out of my brother's car, running to see if I had heard from Russ. Maybe it would give them hope for their loved ones as well. I had to report, that I hadn't heard from my husband, since we said goodbye that morning.

I remember walking up the block to my childhood friend's house with my mom. He was a Police Officer. I thought he could help me, but I wasn't sure how.

Then I remember...my brother shouting up the block that Russ was on the phone.

He called.

He said he was ok.

He said to meet us at the Jamaica Court houses.

He said he borrowed someone's phone.

He said, he couldn't talk, but was coming home.

Coming home.

I remember jumping in my brother's car again.

I remember him driving. I remember going deaf. I remember that life moved in slow motion. It felt like a movie.

I remember pulling up the block of the Court houses.

I remember seeing my husband....

He was covered head to foot in ashes.

I could only see his eyes and a small speck of black on his shoes.

I remember jumping out of the car, while it was still moving, grabbing my husband, and collapsing to the ground in sobs on a street in Jamaica.

I remember the locals applauding us, knowing what they had just witnessed.

I remember turning to look at my little brother, who was 19 years old, gripped onto his steering wheel...sobbing for the brother-in-law he thought he had lost.

I remember the drive back to my mother's house. We all just cried...no words were spoken. Just cries and "I love you's".

I remember pulling up to my mother's house, neighbors out cheering, my mother running down her long driveway, to embrace the son-in-law she considers her own.

I remember my husband saying he couldn't talk. Didn't want to talk. Just wanted to cry.

I remember not feeling my baby kick all day.

I remember calling my doctor. I wanted a sonogram. I wanted to know if God had granted me 2 miracles that day.

I remember going to the doctor, him seeing my husband covered in soot. I remember my doctor crying, and saying that he will never, ever forget my husband for as long as he lives.

I remember seeing Nicholas' heartbeat on the monitor. I remember feeling that I must be the luckiest woman in the world.

I remember getting home from the doctor and seeing 37 messages on our machine.

All frantic. All wanting to know if I had heard from Russ.

I remember calling 2 people, and telling them to make a phone chain, to relay the news that we had been blessed.

I remember holding my husband in bed that night, sobbing.

I remember his chilling story, every detail...and will until the day I die.

I don't know why I wrote this.

I don't know if anyone will read it.

All I know is that my life as I knew it ended on 9/11/01...and my new life began.

I threw that maternity outfit away that night.

I will never forget.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

One of the most powerful memoirs I've ever read regarding 911.

Message edited 9/10/2012 8:18:10 PM.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Every time I read it, it never fails, I always sob. Someone was watching out for your family that day.

I'll never forget.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

This is so incredibly powerful. Thank you so much for sharing that.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Posted by ElizaRags35

Every time I read it, it never fails, I always sob. Someone was watching out for your family that day.

I'll never forget.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Posted by ElizaRags35

Every time I read it, it never fails, I always sob. Someone was watching out for your family that day.

I'll never forget.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

wow, this brought tears to my eyes. Someone was definitely looking after your family on that day

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

I have been reading this for a few years and I always get chills. I cry every year. God Bless.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

thanks for sharing
very touching!!

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Posted by MsSissy

One of the most powerful memoirs I've ever read regarding 911.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

I say this every year. Thank you for posting. God Bless your husband and family.

Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

This is beautiful, thank you for sharing.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Beautiful. Brings tears to my eyes every time I read it.

Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

I have no words <3

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Just like last year you have me sobbing What a powerful memoir. My father was there also and someone was watching over him that day as well and when I tell "my story" from that day I say it just like you...I remember...I remember.

Lots of to all who lost family members and friends that day!!!

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

This has me in tears year after year.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

So, so powerful.

I feel my heart in my throat after reading this.

You and your family had someone watching over all of you that day.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Don't ever stop,posting this story every year.

God bless you and your family.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Thank you for sharing. I cried. I remember 9-11 like yesterday too. I was in Manhattan that day and your sentiment echoes home to me. I could feel everything in your words.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Your story never fails to make me cry, every single year. G-d bless.

Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Thank you for sharing your story. I will echoe the others that I was in tears reading this.

Thankful for your happy ending. Thoughts and prayers to all those that lost family and friends on that awful day.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Your story still makes me cry no matter how many times I read it. Truly a miracle.

Re: Because I promised many people that I would post this every year...on the Anniversary of 9-11...once again, my memoir. We will NEVER forget.

Posted by saraH

Don't ever stop,posting this story every year.

God bless you and your family.