Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

I worked on the upper west side and thankfully wasn't directly affected by the attacks. However, I lived on 15th & 7th so I wasn't too far from the WTC and I'll never forget the burning smell. It was horrible. And I'll never forget being so scared anytime I was on a subway and it was stalled in the tunnel - I would automatically think something else terrible happened.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

I worked in Midtown and our other office was at 1 World Financial Center.
We saw it all from the TV's in our trading room. Our coworkers downtown saw things that horror first hand but thank God everyone got out OK.
We were evacuated from our building because of bomb threats at Grand Central Station.
I walked over the 59th street bridge and saw and smelled the smoke and heard the fighter jets. I thought they were attacking the bridges too. I was never so scared in my life.
My mom worked on Maiden Lane and came home in the late afternoon covered in soot. She has emphysema and were so afraid that something happened to her.
Our collegue from Cantor Fitzgerald died that day.
I will never ever forget that day as long as I live.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

I wasnt in the city that day, so I only saw it on tv. My boyfriend's dad at the time was NYPD and went in every day for a year after 9/11 to help recover and rescue. He's never been the same person since.

My husband's cousin was engaged to a wonderful man who worked in Tower 1. He didnt make it out alive.

I cant imagine what it must be like to have lost someone that day. But I do not know one single person from home that wasnt effected by it in some way. After 9/11 going into the city was never the same -- the smell, the skyline, the overall saddness. I lived in the city for a year after the attacks and I remember sitting on the subway thinking what would I do if the subway was attacked right now? Or if a plane flew a bit low everyone would just stop dead in their tracks. Those are the fears we lived with every day after 9/11

Message edited 9/11/2008 1:59:39 AM.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

I didn't work in NYC but the company I was working for at the time has several offices there. My boss along with several colleagues were there that day.

I remember the buzz around the office and everyone running into the conference rooms and watching the second plane hit and thinking that this was no accident.

From there mass hysteria - trying to find my boss and the others who went into NYC that day. We called every office, every floor and every contact we had and couldn't fine them. They drove in so there was no way out of the city and no cell service. I had about 10 wives calling me hysterical b/c they couldn't reach their husbands. Hours later I got in touch with my boss and after I hung up with him and found out everyone was ok I locked myself in his office and lost it. I then called all the wives to tell them that the boys were all ok and cried along with them.

It was a horrible, emotional, gut wrenching day. I was fortunate enough that everyone I know who worked in the trade center got out and all my friends who worked nearby were ok.

I'll never forget that day or stop praying for the familes.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

I know people that lost family/friends. My mom was working in the city that day and I remember my heart raced for hours until I heard from her. Thankfully she was safe. It is a rough day for all and I think it affected everyone on so many different levels. It truly is sad!
Know that we are all here for you to help alleviate some of your pain/fears though.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

I wasnt there but still fear the day. I dont think its something you ever just get over.. you went through something soo tramatic, and how you feel is normal.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

To all of those affected, my heart goes out to all of you...I am thankful that I didn't know anyone personally that passed away on 9/11 but when I see how many people did, it breaks your heart to think of how many people did lose someone. I was actually at work on that day and I first heard that a plane had hit on instant messenger with Chelle! She was watching it on tv and at first I didn't really think it was anything major...we looked it up online and saw a picture of the tower but they had been reporting that it was a small plane. Then Chelle wrote back that another one hit and from that moment on my office was in a complete panic. Our boss' actually sent us all home because all of us were just so scared/worried/upset.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

I was working in midtown and saw it all from the 47th floor of my building.

My ex-husband (husband at the time) worked downtown in a federal law enforcement position and was about one block away when the first tower collapsed. He wanted to go into the buildings to help, but his partner said they couldn't do anything more and wanted to go back to the office. He was also in a minor car accident on West Side Highway when the first plane hit.

My father worked downtown too, and I was beside myself with fear until I knew that he was safe at home. He was running late and the express bus never made it into the city because of the attacks.

I will never forget that day.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

to give my full story...

i worked at 2wtc 6b...that is 6 floors under ground! i was screaming at one of my foreman for doing something stupid... left went to talk to someone else all i hear was OMG! another foreman was talking to there dd and said to get out something happened...

so i leave with everyone else. stupid me took the elevator because i just came back to work from having knee surgery. well we get upstairs they tell us its nothing to go back down theres just a fire next door... well i took 1 look outside and it looked like a scene from a movie. cars overturned papers everywhere people running.... i said heck no and left... i got out 1 1/2 min before the building came down. as im running i fall... got stepped on.. (on my knee which broke what was fixed) some man picked me up and carried me till i could walk again.... as im leaving i look back..... i cannot even tell you the things i saw. I finally got o 20th st where my warehouse was located in nyc. theres blood on me eveyone was frantaclly trying to find out where i was hurt..... not mine.... i lost it. i stayed at my warehouse until they let people drive out of the city (which was 1am) i finally got to my moms.... i find out they could find my dad. hes a pilot... he was at the airport where the planes were hijacked from. tHANK GOD he was ok he finally was able to call through and say he was fine (grounded) I was back at work the next orning 8am doing disaster relief.. i worked 4 days straight on pure adrenealine.. (i slept in the office) they moved us back by the WTC a few blocks to be able to maintain our work properly.. i stayed almost a year and quit. i couldnt do it anymore.. i couldnt drive had togive up my car, anytime i hear sirens, or loud bangs i would go into a panic..... i have since gotten better.. 3 yrs later i got a car again and i am driving. but today i still go into panics listening to cops and sirens forget about loud bangs and car crashes....

God bless all of you!!! I am glad you were all (for the mosrt part) ok. My heart goes out to each on one of you!

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.

I am fortunate in that I did not lose anyone close to me. The attacks did effect me and my DH. We spent many hours there (him MANY more than me) after 9/11.

That day is hard for me in a different way. Ultimatley, the events on 9/11/01 ended up "causing" me to lose what I thought was my dream job. The job where I met my husband. I was a police officer (NYPD) and the events put me in a depression (as I am sure it did to MANY, MANY people). I was still technically on probation and though it took 1 1/2 yrs (and lots of fighting) I lost my job as a result.

The losses. The pain. The anquish. Everything hit me hard. I also think the "what ifs" hit me hard as well. My dad used to work with MANY of the people employed at Cantor, and he still cries when we go to visit the site(he lives OOS now).

I know others have faced much harder losses from that day, but I have a very hard time sharing my thoughts/outcomes from that day.

In the days following 9/11, I did spend some time at Ground Zero (as a cop) and it was very surreal. Words cannot express what emotion, fear, unknowing existed down there. As someone else posted, the sights and sounds cannot be forgotten.

MANY hugs, thoughts and prayers to any and everyone effected, no matter how big or small, by those events- in NYC, PA and DC.

Message edited 9/11/2008 10:52:08 AM.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.(update pg 4 my full story.. gory details left out)

I was there

2WTC 36th Floor

Just got off the phone doing an interview with a paper and relived the whole thing.

I was injured and had surgery but it went a little wrong. Still suffering today.

Lost friends as well. Really Good people.

I just looked at my 2 and a half week old baby and cried.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.(update pg 4 my full story.. gory details left out)

Posted by twinboys425

to give my full story...

i worked at 2wtc 6b...that is 6 floors under ground! i was screaming at one of my foreman for doing something stupid... left went to talk to someone else all i hear was OMG! another foreman was talking to there dd and said to get out something happened...

so i leave with everyone else. stupid me took the elevator because i just came back to work from having knee surgery. well we get upstairs they tell us its nothing to go back down theres just a fire next door... well i took 1 look outside and it looked like a scene from a movie. cars overturned papers everywhere people running.... i said heck no and left... i got out 1 1/2 min before the building came down. as im running i fall... got stepped on.. (on my knee which broke what was fixed) some man picked me up and carried me till i could walk again.... as im leaving i look back..... i cannot even tell you the things i saw. I finally got o 20th st where my warehouse was located in nyc. theres blood on me eveyone was frantaclly trying to find out where i was hurt..... not mine.... i lost it. i stayed at my warehouse until they let people drive out of the city (which was 1am) i finally got to my moms.... i find out they could find my dad. hes a pilot... he was at the airport where the planes were hijacked from. tHANK GOD he was ok he finally was able to call through and say he was fine (grounded) I was back at work the next orning 8am doing disaster relief.. i worked 4 days straight on pure adrenealine.. (i slept in the office) they moved us back by the WTC a few blocks to be able to maintain our work properly.. i stayed almost a year and quit. i couldnt do it anymore.. i couldnt drive had togive up my car, anytime i hear sirens, or loud bangs i would go into a panic..... i have since gotten better.. 3 yrs later i got a car again and i am driving. but today i still go into panics listening to cops and sirens forget about loud bangs and car crashes....

God bless all of you!!! I am glad you were all (for the mosrt part) ok. My heart goes out to each on one of you!

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.(update pg 4 my full story.. gory details left out)

Posted by twinboys425

to give my full story...

i worked at 2wtc 6b...that is 6 floors under ground! i was screaming at one of my foreman for doing something stupid... left went to talk to someone else all i hear was OMG! another foreman was talking to there dd and said to get out something happened...

so i leave with everyone else. stupid me took the elevator because i just came back to work from having knee surgery. well we get upstairs they tell us its nothing to go back down theres just a fire next door... well i took 1 look outside and it looked like a scene from a movie. cars overturned papers everywhere people running.... i said heck no and left... i got out 1 1/2 min before the building came down. as im running i fall... got stepped on.. (on my knee which broke what was fixed) some man picked me up and carried me till i could walk again.... as im leaving i look back..... i cannot even tell you the things i saw. I finally got o 20th st where my warehouse was located in nyc. theres blood on me eveyone was frantaclly trying to find out where i was hurt..... not mine.... i lost it. i stayed at my warehouse until they let people drive out of the city (which was 1am) i finally got to my moms.... i find out they could find my dad. hes a pilot... he was at the airport where the planes were hijacked from. tHANK GOD he was ok he finally was able to call through and say he was fine (grounded) I was back at work the next orning 8am doing disaster relief.. i worked 4 days straight on pure adrenealine.. (i slept in the office) they moved us back by the WTC a few blocks to be able to maintain our work properly.. i stayed almost a year and quit. i couldnt do it anymore.. i couldnt drive had togive up my car, anytime i hear sirens, or loud bangs i would go into a panic..... i have since gotten better.. 3 yrs later i got a car again and i am driving. but today i still go into panics listening to cops and sirens forget about loud bangs and car crashes....

God bless all of you!!! I am glad you were all (for the mosrt part) ok. My heart goes out to each on one of you!

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.(update pg 4 my full story.. gory details left out)

I work in NYC and was here that day. I wasn't in the same situation as you but felt enough to send me over the edge. I can only imagine the pain you feel and still do as I still sometimes get so sad about it.

It's normal, deal with your emotions and talk to someone, what you went through is very hard, very emotional and not something that one would be expected to react without emotion and depression to.

Message edited 9/11/2008 12:01:22 PM.

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.(update pg 4 my full story.. gory details left out)

Posted by twinboys425

I went back to work the next day.. after not getting home till after 1am! i was put in a building 3 blocks way to work. we had to get all communications back up and running.. i stayed for a year and couldnt deal anymore left.

That day also we could find my dad.. hes a pilot... he was actually at the airport that they hijacked one of the planes from.. FREAKING SCARY!


i duno i know i need to get over it but i cant. i didnt drive for the first 3 yrs after. still freak out over every siren, every firecracker...

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.(update pg 4 my full story.. gory details left out)

Posted by twinboys425

to give my full story...

i worked at 2wtc 6b...that is 6 floors under ground! i was screaming at one of my foreman for doing something stupid... left went to talk to someone else all i hear was OMG! another foreman was talking to there dd and said to get out something happened...

so i leave with everyone else. stupid me took the elevator because i just came back to work from having knee surgery. well we get upstairs they tell us its nothing to go back down theres just a fire next door... well i took 1 look outside and it looked like a scene from a movie. cars overturned papers everywhere people running.... i said heck no and left... i got out 1 1/2 min before the building came down. as im running i fall... got stepped on.. (on my knee which broke what was fixed) some man picked me up and carried me till i could walk again.... as im leaving i look back..... i cannot even tell you the things i saw. I finally got o 20th st where my warehouse was located in nyc. theres blood on me eveyone was frantaclly trying to find out where i was hurt..... not mine.... i lost it. i stayed at my warehouse until they let people drive out of the city (which was 1am) i finally got to my moms.... i find out they could find my dad. hes a pilot... he was at the airport where the planes were hijacked from. tHANK GOD he was ok he finally was able to call through and say he was fine (grounded) I was back at work the next orning 8am doing disaster relief.. i worked 4 days straight on pure adrenealine.. (i slept in the office) they moved us back by the WTC a few blocks to be able to maintain our work properly.. i stayed almost a year and quit. i couldnt do it anymore.. i couldnt drive had togive up my car, anytime i hear sirens, or loud bangs i would go into a panic..... i have since gotten better.. 3 yrs later i got a car again and i am driving. but today i still go into panics listening to cops and sirens forget about loud bangs and car crashes....

God bless all of you!!! I am glad you were all (for the mosrt part) ok. My heart goes out to each on one of you!

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.(update pg 4 my full story.. gory details left out)

God Bless you!!!!!!!!

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.(update pg 4 my full story.. gory details left out)

Re: OK, Very touchy subject.. for me anywat.(update pg 4 my full story.. gory details left out)

twinboys/aeriell-

wow, what a story. how incredibly scary. I agree with PP, you dont have to "get over it", but hopefully you will have less anxiety and heal in your own way.. I cant imagine. thanks for sharing your story.

Message edited 9/11/2008 10:14:36 PM.