From: SandyTesha@aol.com
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 18:42:26 EDT
Subject: September 11, 2001

Hi all -

Thanks so much for all of your calls and emails. Today has been an
incredible day here in New York City.

I ventured out with a neighbor from the building around 10am, to see the
action in Times Square. People were streaming up 6th and 7th Avenues as well
as Broadway, we felt like salmon swimming against the current. Worse than
rush hour. More strange than rush hour - because there were no cars.
Everyone was trying to get out of Manhattan. They had closed the bridges and
tunnels and shut down the subway in all 5 boroughs by now, so there was no
where to go. I passed a woman sobbing hysterically, walking down the street
by herself. People were just standing around in groups outside office
buildings in disbelief.

Times Square was a mass of humanity - all staring at the ABC jumbotron and
the NASDAQ newsreel as well as the Dow Jones "zipper" that wraps around One
Times Square Building. Cell phones were not working (neither was my pager) -
as many of the signal towers were on top of the WTC buildings. There were
lines of people at every pay phone at every corner. You could see black
smoke and gray clouds downtown covering the piece of sky between Broadway and 7th Avenues.

On 38th street a couple of guys had set up a small tv on a chair on the
street, and people were watching and talking with them as they passed by.
One of the guys said he knew someone (who was middle eastern) who had a shop
down by the WTC, who specifically said "I'm not going to open my store
tomorrow (Tuesday)."

We continued walking down to 9th street - pretty much everything was closed
(about 1130am). A few random restaurants were opened, but severely
understaffed because people were too scared to stay or couldn't get into the
city. We had lunch (although I felt too sick to my stomach to eat) at an old
NY Steakhouse, Kinckerbockers, which was packed. They had tv's in every
corner - every time "breaking news" came across the screen everybody shushed
up and listened. A woman waiting behind me for the phone said she works
downtown, she was there earlier, and then just started crying.

In looking around the restaurant, I discovered that the walls were covered
with old 30s and 40s war posters - everything from Uncle Sam to Volunteering
for the Army to "AMERICA IS AT WAR". Ironic and sickening.

After lunch, we walked back towards 55th Street. We had no choice as the
subways were still not working. (And for those of you not familiar with the
subway lines here, underneath the World Trade Center and Financial Center
there are about 5 subway lines as well as the PATH trains to New Jersey - god
knows how many people were traveling at the time the buildings collapsed and
are trapped underneath the rubble.) Someone had posted computer-printed
signs reading "PLEASE DONATE BLOOD AS THERE ARE SHORTAGES DUE TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER TRAGEDY".

5th Avenue was absolutely dead. No traffic except for an occasional
screaming ambulance or police car (many of them covered completely with "ash"
and dust). Cars/buses were being diverted to the east/west sides at 42nd
street. It was so eerie and surreal. Just hundreds of people wandering,
looking, many with cameras and camcorders. As you looked back towards the
Flatiron building on 23rd street, there was nothing but black clouds and
smoke - usually a classic NYC shot of the Flatiron and the WTC. People just
kept saying, "I can't believe it's gone... it was there this morning when I
walked to work... I just can't believe it.." People were talking and
discussing events with complete strangers - I have never seen "New Yorkers"
be so gentle and open with others.

A 15 year-old student walked with us a while and said he was in class when
the first "explosion" happened. His class went outside and looked at the
building - saw the 2nd plane hit - then saw people jump from the collapsing
tower. He said he started running then.

A 30-something electrician then joined us, and said he was near the WTC also.
A wheel from the first plane rolled up to his feet - he had no idea what the
hell had happened, but a tourist said "hey let me take your picture!" and
did so, with him standing with one foot on the wheel. The tourist kid
offered to send him a copy of the photo, and gave him a pen and paper to
write with, as well as his wallet for something firm to write on. The 2nd
plane hit then, and debris started falling, and both ran in opposite
directions. The electrician still had the kids' wallet, which he showed to
us, as well as some paper he grabbed off the streets - burned financial
papers from 1988 that had flown out of the tower. Really really freaky. The
electrician said he was doing some work downtown and his truck was still
there - buried or destroyed. He just ran. He said he was going to the hotel
where the tourist was staying to try to return his wallet - but he just
wanted to go home and hug his kids. I asked him where he lived, he said "the
Bronx". I asked him how he was going to get there, since there were no
trains running, he said, "I'll walk if I have to."

All the shows on Broadway were canceled, the TKTS booth deserted. Coming
back through Times Square the ABC Jumbotron AND the NASDAQ tickers/newsreels were both black. I don't know if they did this on purpose to get people out of Times Square, or what. That was surreal too. Just dead black space in
the middle of all the flashing lights.

I still don't believe it. My beautiful city, ruined. I am in shock and just
devastated as I see footage on TV of the area that was destroyed. The WTC
and financial center was one of my favorite places to rollerblade as well as
to read or just meditate, it was so beautiful and peaceful down there by the
water, with all the new parks and the gleaming buildings in the background.
I went to the top of the Towers in 1990, I remember how incredibly windy it
was up there... I am stunned they are GONE. Just like that. Gone. It is
all so surreal.

Thank you all again for your care and concern. Boo is home and doing OK. I
am shaken but OK. I feel for all the people who were down there when this
happened. I hope and pray that none of your friends or relations were
involved in this horrible tragedy. I'll keep you posted if anything else
happens.

Love,
Sandy

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