September 11, 2001

It was a bright sunny Tuesday morning here in NJ on September 11, 2001. I was getting ready for work as I always did, my same routine was in order, as my day was about to begin. While watching our local Fox news which is stationed out of NYC, a commenter on the street in NYC was speculating that a small plane hit the north tower of the world trade center, he said very clear "the pilot probably misjudged" in the back round you can see smoke bellowing from the tower. There was no breaking news flashing across the screen, it really was like any other small news event that happens in our area all the time. I called to my dad to put the local news on, and he and I discussed the error in judgment of the pilot while watching the scenes being shown on T.V. 15 minutes after the first plane hit, another plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center. And that is when it began, the realization, that something was not right, and these plane's hitting the Towers where not by accident.

On this day, nothing is a blur, I remember everything that happened afterward just like it was yesterday. I drove to work while trying to get my cousin who works in the city on her cell phone, however it was not to be as the recording I was getting was stopping me "all circuits are busy please try your call again" and as many times as I tried, the same damn recording became a brick wall. In those same moments I began to repeat, "we are being attacked".

The day continues on, with one catastrophe after another, and each time, my mind reels with sadness and confusion. As I tried to say focused, I checked my passenger list on which clients were flying that day, and if any of my clients were on those planes. It was a relief to find out that none of them were. When the airports shut down, I knew that this was a event never to be forgotten, also knowing how many lives where about to change.


In the late afternoon, I finally reached my cousin who was now stuck in NY, as the only thing running were the waterways from New York to Hoboken NJ, she was standing in line with thousands of stranded Jerseyans trying to find their way back home. All I thought, was that she is safe. She finally reached Hoboken, around midnight. I was overjoyed, to say the least.

I watched in horror people jumping from windows that were stuck in the towers, their bodies falling to the ground, as they outstretched their arms thinking that perhaps that would save them. The mass of people running when the towers collapsed, they were running to safe their life's and they knew it. The determination it must have took to run from falling concrete debris, as all they wanted was life.


This day is a day that did indeed change many peoples lives. I almost lost my business as no one would fly in the upcoming months, my struggle was to just survive and keep my business going at all cost. My landlord agreed to take 1/2 the rent each month till the new year began, my family and friends gave me money to pay my office expenses, and grocerys were given to my business partner, as he lives alone, and depends more on his paycheck than I. I applied for the SBA loan they were offering, after mounds and mounds of paper work, I was denied, as SBA said I was a high risk business and they did not want to take a chance on loaning me the money, I was asking for $5000.00 dollars, which is not a lot, I was pushed aside and needed to fend for myself, as I was not going down without a fight, more so I would not let these awful attackers destroy me. My survival during those times were based solely on the family and friends mentioned above.

My cousin lost her job in the city, a couple of weeks later we had to go to Hoboken so she can apply for aid, she received one months rent and money for food. There was a memorial of sorts set up, and we walked around looking at all the pictures of the deceased or lost. People were still looking for loved ones, they had pictures with them asking people if the saw their mother, father, sister etc. We gave our sympathies and explained that we have not. It was a long day, and it is embedded in my mind. So many disoriented people, just wandering around aimlessly in hopes of finding a loved one.

Each year on this day, our local news stations show the memorial at Ground Zero, and each year I watch. Through clients and friends I know some people that perished or better yet, killed. The sadness pours thru me, the anger front and center. I hate everyone of the attackers, for they
are selfish, cowardly bastards, I am glad they are dead. If they want to praise Allah for the good of their people, then praise Allah in your homeland, keep your Allah, as I have no use for Allah or their beliefs.


I used to be able to see the Twin Towers, when riding on certain streets in my area. I would drive up a hill and before me were beautiful structures, made my man. So we Americans can have jobs and prosperity. Now I see empty spaces, which always reminds me of that dreadful day, the day we, Americans were attacked, the day we lost close to 3000.00 people. Mothers, Fathers, Daughters, Sons. Innocent people who were about to start their day, just as I was.

I will never forget what happen, my anger will be instilled in me for the rest of my life, I will not let it go. I made a promise to myself back in 2001, to never forgot, and if ever the day comes that we get the mastermind that was behind this hideous attack, it will be a day that I will be joyous, and hopefully what goes around comes around.

My deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to all the families that lost loved ones, may the memories of them give you comfort, and may they always be in your hearts.


Click here for the Timeline of the September 11 attacks

Click here for the names of those that perished