EMAILS
Written Sept 11 and thereafter
From David.... former NYC neighbor and theatre-company pal.
9/11/01
Friends,
I pretty much saw this horror unfold throughout the morning with my own eyes ... I had just finished voting in the primary election we are having for Mayor, and was walking up 5th Street in the East Village when I saw the first plane screeching across the Manhattan skyline, very low and heading south. I had the immediate sense that it was going to crash, it was only a question of where. That was because planes never fly south over Manhattan and never that low (they always head north for LaGuardia Airport) --About a long ten seconds later I heard a boom, but truthfully, I didn't completely associate that boom with the airplane crash because it wasn't all that loud, and since there are plenty of building construction type (booms) sounds everyday and everywhere here in New York City. But as I continued on my way to the subway on my way to work, I first spotted the billowing smoke, and than was faced on the corner of third avenue and 5th Street, the huge, gaping and stunning hole in the first tower of the WTC. I stood there in disbelief talking with the large crowd which was quickly gathering. After 15 minutes or so, I walked back to my apartment (missing the second plane's detonation), turned on the t.v. and sat down at my desk which once had "a perfect view" of the World Trade Centers directly out my bedroom window - it was then, while looking out the window, that I saw the first tower go down - it was fucking shocking! - I yelled out something in disbelief to my roommate who was in the other room watching it on his t.v. ... to see it in person and on t.v. at the same time was a very strange vantage point on history ... One bizarre side note was that while I watching the tower collapse in front of me, the commentators on the t.v. station I was watching were talking about other things for at least a full thirty seconds and they didn't notice what had happened even though the camera was trained on the building as it fell ... I was screaming at the t.v. set "You're missing the story!"
After that, I then headed up to my roof, which has an incredible panoramic view of the entire city, and I stood in shock with a group of twenty or so, holding binoculars, watching in silence as the second tower went down ... it is truly unbelievable to see something of that magnitude implode -- Hollywood has gotten it right over the years, the effect of it seeing it live was just stunning ... the notable aspect of it that stands in my mind that is that it went down in total silence from my vantage point of 2 miles away ....
After all this, I went to the bank to get some cash, went shopping for food -- the grocery stores were jammed -- the bridges, tunnels, subways are now closed ... I made it home and finally got through to my family in California ... I have been sitting here for hours now, watching out my window at the gaping hole now filled with a hug column of smoke now as thousands are walking up First Avenue hopefully heading safely for home ....
Emotionally, it was a very powerful event to witness ... thinking of how many good people were killed today in an instant shook my (our) world ... the picture of that plane tearing across the sky as it headed for the World Trade Center is now seared in my mind forever ...
The streets here in NYC are packed with people, but I have not seen any panic, just grim acceptance ... even dealing with the long lines in the grocery store, people were being exceptional polite with each other which was a nice change of pace ...
And I can't tell you what a beautiful day it is here in New York City -- it is so hard to reconcile the natural brilliance which is surrounding us with the tragedy which just occurred ... Going through my address book for this email, I realize I know so many folks here in New York who perhaps had friends and/or family in the downtown vicinity this morning. My thoughts, prayers and good wishes go to you all.
Love,
David
9/14/01
Hey all, I've been offline for three days now, and phone service
has been basically non-existent for that entire time ...
occasionally I can get past a busy signal, but I haven't spoken
to my parents for a couple of days now ... I wrote this about
2:00 p.m. on the Monday afternoon right after it happened but
just as I sent it out, my connection to AOL went down (until just
now) and I now realize the mail never went out ... I'm sitting in
my apartment looking out the window which used to have a
magnificent view of the World Trade Centers ... now all I see is
just dark gray smoke pouring out over all of lower Manhattan ...
everything below 14th Street is a dead zone (I'm on 6th Street),
as you all know, its a bizarre and surreal time in New York (but
people have been incredible and inspiring) as I am sure it is
everywhere else as well ... basically all is well though, and I
thought I'd share my little eyewitness account to what you've
been reading and watching on the t.v.
David
Again... from David...
9/20/01
Tonight, after work, my friend Barbara and I, went out for our
monthly drink(s) after
work thing … There was much to discuss, the terrorism, war,
our friend's recent wedding, office politics and the time and
drinks just flew by…. After about three glasses of red wine
apiece, we decided to head down to Union Square on 14th Street
where an impromptu resurrection of the Hippie movement had been
in full flower for the last week or so commemorating the recent
troubles … The park has been turned into an incredible site,
where every night thousands of people have been gathering for
music, peace, candles, and remembrance … but as we were
approaching the 14th Street Station, we changed our minds and
decided we needed to head further south and take a look at
"ground zero."
We weren't sure what we would be able to see once there, if the
authorities would let us see "it", how close we could
get to "it" and how, whatever we saw, would make us
feel. We were full of anticipation though, and also nervous about
what it would be like … There was definitely a feeling of
excitement about our little world terrorism adventure … So
when the subway pulled up to Fulton Street, and the doors opened,
we were unexpectedly hit by the stench of human death …
It was shocking smell and whatever excitement we had immediately
dissapeared … Actually smelling dead people was an
unfortunate first for me … it was such an unexpected
physical sense that within moments, we were not sure if we could
stand the sensation any longer than a few moments … we
hurried out of the station and found our way after a series of
cordoned off stairwells to an exit that brought us up directly up
to Maiden Lane and Broadway… Thank God we got to the open
air because as soon as we did, the smell basically went away
… Again, we had no idea what we would be able see from the
street level, or how much of the scene would be cut off by the
surrounding buildings or police lines, but basically, once were
out on the street, we could see it all …
Immediately, on that first corner, we were confronted with what
was left of two of the smaller World Trade Center buildings, 5
and 7. There twisted but still rectangular shapes were still
quite visible, but their contorted intestines were hanging out of
them at bizarre and impossible angles … In the dark of
night, with the stark illumination of the intense work lights,
and the smoke still pouring out of the base of all the rubble, it
was an extraordinary sight to see …
We eventually moved down one block where the most recognizable
skeletal facade of the South Tower was standing like a
honeycombed gravestone piercing the ground … In the
background, through the dense cloud which occasionally turned
surprisingly visible as the wind blew across the site, the
illuminated towers of the basically untouched American Express
Building stood in contrast to the "science fiction"
exterior we were facing ….
Another block down Broadway, we were faced with an even taller
tower of rubble -- constantly I was awed by what man had built as
a crowning achievement to human glory and ingenuity and what man
had destroyed as a symbol of his hatred and intolerance …
There was a large crane rising several stories above the scene
which was spraying a strong thrust of water over the smoldering
metal and compressed pit of twisted rubble …. Again, it
seemed like a huge alien sculpture set down in the middle of
modern America ...
The single most vivid emotional truth that came out of the trip
downtown for me was this … It was an absolute MIRACLE that
so many other people were spared from certain death … In no
way am I being facetious by saying this, but "Allah"
was being very kind to America when he/she allowed this horror to
happen the way it did … The scene of destruction was so
absolute, complete and horrific that it seemed impossible that
the entire financial district wasn't destroyed as well ... but
when you are right there, I had this incredible sense that tens
of thousands of other people had been protected by some power
from almost certain destruction.
Standing right next to and encircling the complete and utter
destruction of the WTC were dozens of modern skyscrapers and
smaller scaled buildings dating from the 40's (before and after)
which were nestled together and all without any obvious scratches
on them … their windows were almost all intact, with just a
thick coating of dust on the walls and store fronts (on which
people had scrawled words and messages of love and hope) .. .
The damage was all so cleanly contained, that it is hard to
comprehend the complete obliteration evident before our eyes --
especially when you turned your head to the other side of
Broadway and saw white twinkling lights set on a grouping of
trees in a small public park swaying in the still summer-like
breeze one block away from ground zero ...
It was an odd combination of experiences to piece together, but I
have to admit, the feeling I left "ground zero" with
was a positive one … The scene itself is frightening but it
was also made so human by all the obvious care of the rescue
workers and the quiet and solemn crowds that had gathered .... I
felt much more strongly than before I came, that the WTC should
be eventually rebuilt in some form … Just placing a park or
a memorial in its place would be a poor substitute for what I
think needs to be there which is something that should house
important businesses and vibrant people. Perhaps, it will be a
much safer world, by the time they build it …
Bin Laden did his best to destroy a symbol and all he got was a
building ... My humble little opinion is that America has caused
far more good in the world than bad, and that Osama's perversion
of his religion, is marred by a fatal flaw of arrogance and
superiority that I trust and hope has been fatally misplaced on
his part ...
Afterwards, we made our way up to Union Square Park on 14th
Street (the experience of that place definitely needs another
email to itself), but the impromptu humaness and energy that was
gathered there was a powerful testament to all the unity and love
that this piece of history has brought to New York City and
America ...
We're going to need all of it that we can get ...
Love, David
From former NYC roommate Brian -- who still lives in the city.
09/11/01
Hi Maria -
I've been thinking of you all day - I remember when you called
from the WTC back when the bombing took place... and I didn't
even know you were working there.
It is so surreal - to know that they're gone now.
Jimmy's here, too - he had to walk 80 blocks to get home, since
there was no public transportation.
Written by me to Brian (we can't locate some of his original "I'm Ok" emails...)
09/12/01
It's odd isn't it... you can look down your street and see WTC
smoke.... I can go to the top of this building and see Pentagon
smoke...
There was a period of time yesterday when everything just felt
like it was getting bigger and bigger....
I was struggling with the WTC thing which I had just found out
about on the car radio...
.. in the time it took to park the car and get up to my lobby (5
minutes) -- I walked in and heard people going crazy.
I assumed it was about the WTC... no... the Pentagon.
I can't figure out how I did not hear this low flying air craft
and explosion.
The Pentagon is literally (over a river) about 3 miles away.
I had just driven past the Monument...
I drive past the Pentagon 3-4 times a week...
As I was leaving my building (before the towers fell)... I saw
people running... grabbing their children from day care and
leaving.
Women running with empty baby-harnesses on their chests...
running to get baby...
Maria
Email #2 -- 09/12/01
I am at work... but yet working on some weird auto-pilot...
I never thought they would fall, did you?
I mean... I was looking at it... and thinking "gee, wonder
how they are gonna fix that..."
I never dreamed they would collapse.
I had gotten my father on my cell and he said they were gone...
and I thought he meant the top several floors had
collapsed. He had to repeat it to me a couple times.
When I told a stranger who was standing nearby... I felt like I
was lying to them.... because I could not POSSIBLY be saying
those words...
It is going to be worse when the smoke and dust clears up... then
we will have a clear view of the missing skyline...
I don't think I will really believe it until I go to NY and DON'T
see the towers as I approach.
I think I will have to take a weekend trip up there very soon...
I feel like I HAVE to see it.... and stand there...
Does that make any sense?
My response to the first email I got from David. I hadn't had a response since I first sent him an "are you ok" mail on Sept 11 ... and he hadn't known his messages weren't getting through...
09/13/01
Thank God.
This the first thing I got from you.
I was getting more than a little worried...
I knew your top priority wouldn't be checking in with a friend
you hadn't seen for years... but still.. the more time that
passed....
Please resend your previous stuff....
Are you at home?
Are they only letting residents below 14th Street?
I want to come up there so much.... I feel like I have to
actually SEE it -- because it is so unreal...
And I wish I could help....
Is everyone you know OK?
Are YOU OK? (emotionally... if nothing else).
I mean... I feel like I am on my last nerve... if a kid rolls
their big wheel outside I jump....
I used to work in the WTC -- was inside when the 1993 bomb went
off...
Stood on the roof of my building in DC and watched the Pentagon
burn.
I realized just yesterday that the plane probably literally flew
over my head as I drove past the Monument.
I think I can actually FEEL every nerve conveying messages...
I wasn't this nerve-racked when I was in the other WTC attack.
It is just too unreal...
I was standing on the street when my dad (I had managed to get a
call through) told me both towers were gone.
He had to tell me three times... I couldn't register it.
I told a stranger next to me... I felt like I was lying to them.
I couldn't POSSIBLY be saying those words...
Maria
Written by me to my Aunt Mary-Roberta:
09/13/01
If a kid rolls their big wheel outside, I jump.
I think I can feel every nerve in my body sometimes.
I keep corresponding with friends from NY... the unreality of it
all is stunning.
Driving into and out of DC I pass military vehicles and
Army/National Guard soldiers frequently.
If we hear the sound of a plane... we all panic.
Usually it is fighter jets patrolling the area.
The underlying somberness, nomatter where you go -- to work, or
to Target -- is striking.
People are almost afraid to talk loud.
As if we are in a giant library.
I could go on forever... too much to say... about nothing that
can be put into words.
Written by me to my former roommate Brian -- who still lives in NYC
09/19/01
What is it like there this week?
I can't believe it has been a week already. Strange since
the first few days seemed to go on forever.
Driving past the Pentagon is odd -- like driving past a cemetary
or an emotionally moving memorial.
I haven't driven past the damaged side because those exits are
closed. Had to figure out a Plan B for where I was going...
But the side I drive past also has a large parking lot across the
highway... and I am on that highway between the two.
The lot is no longer totally filled with cars.
Instead, half the lot is set up with Army tents. So many
tents and uniformed personnel walking around that it looks like
the set of MASH.
But the really awful things are the piles that are also in the
lot.
Various piles of debris everywhere.... big pile here.... smaller
pile there.... bigger pile overthere....
Apparently some piles are building debris... some plane parts....
some classified stuff... and some... human remains.
I doubt I am passing that pile though... I am sure they are
showing more respect than that...
Those piles are probably IN tents...
Have you been downtown yet?
Maria
