Hello Friends,
I worked in NYC for many years and in September 2000, had to go to the World Trade Center to sign some papers for a new company I was going to work for during the remainder of 2000 - Never did I imagine that this would ever take place a year after I was in those towers. I met Larry and the great HR gal whose name I never knew. All I remember was that she ran a lot and hung all of her 5K and 10K numbers in frames around her office - she was proud that she was able to run and complete these races. Larry, the average thin "in shape" father of a newborn and 2 other kids lived about 45 minutes south of my family. I can still remember when payroll was not coming out for a particular period due to computer problems, Larry was the one who wrote me a check from his PERSONAL account to make sure that I got paid. What a guy.
In August 2001, I was transferred to Florida and had to make a trip to North Carolina during the week of September 10th. The first day of the week long get together went smoothly. Everybody giving reports and the CIO doing his thing. I can remember that night, the group going out to a local pub for some drinks and kicking back. We all talked about our past and where we were from. After all, we were a global company and some were meeting others for the very first time.
The next morning (Tuesday, 9/11), it was normal. We started the meeting in the hotel's conference room about 8:00AM and had a few breaks. During the 1st break at 9:00, we all were told to put on the TV in the conference room for news. The rest of the day, we were all in disbelief. It's like our lives had stopped.
My frantic calls to my wife in Florida were always intercepted with Verizon's "I'm sorry, please try your call again later". Nobody was able to get to their loved ones. What a panic!
Then the towers came down. One and then the other.
What about Larry. I know he was on the 102nd floor - a few below Cantor Fitzgerald, but was he even in the office at that time? I didn't know. What about everybody else in the office? My heart and mind were racing with lightning fast thoughts. I could hardly stand and think. What was my family thinking? After all, I did fly to NC and had to fly back...or did I? Everything seemed so uncertain and I didn't have control.
In hindsight, the whole day is one big blur with a few remembered conversations and remembering that I was away from my family during this threatening time. I was uneasy and wanted to be home badly. Then, all airports and airplanes were grounded. How was I going to get home?
I drove back to FL in a rental car with a few colleagues and found out the inevitable truth about Larry and the others that were diligent in getting to work early. THEY were the victims because they were early and wanted to be proactive. The fine young lady in HR perished as well. As far as we know, most of the office did. The FBI was able to deliver a credit card and an ID badge of Larry's to his wife. Other than photos, that was all she had to remember her husband...that is all the children have to remember their father.
I remember speaking with my "Best Man" from his office. He'd called me from his cell phone and amazingly got through to me. He was on Broadway by Wall St. - a great hangout spot with tons of places that we'd frequent for lunch or dinner.
"Hi Joe how are you doing...OK? I just saw the news!"...he was silent. His building was in lockdown and he couldn't see out his windows due to the ash and debris. Joe was always reserved but ALWAYS had something to say. He started sobbing on the phone to me. He was uncertain about what was going on. He was terrified.
"It's horrible Dave, just a mess here" he wept.
I didn't know what to say. Here was a grown man panicking to me over the phone in the middle of ground zero.
Joe eventually was allowed to leave his building later in the day and went home in New Jersey.
This whole event left me very unsettling, I feel guilty, sad and of course heart wrenched for families, the children, the babies and the wives sobbing and aching day after day about their new found fate. Without a father, mother, husband or wife. I was so appreciative of my family (I've always been of course) and could not imagine the pain and horror in their lives after this day.
Be kind to yourself, others and your family. Tell them that you love them today and every day with sincerity and love. They will appreciate it and you will always know that you've done your best to be kind.
Dave O
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