I thought that since this is 9/11 and I’m a New Yorker, I may as well share my story and how everything was the day it happened. Garrett has already seen this from my blog, but I thought I should post it here too.
I was in second grade. The principle’s voice came on the teleprompter and all I remember is seeing the teachers slam and lock the doors and shut all the windows. We were told to get under our desks. I remember a lot of screaming. So much screaming. Next thing I know everyone is crowding to the front doors of school and my mom was reaching for me. We gotta go! JESSICA WE NEED TO GO NOW. I’ll never forget what her voice sounded like. I ran outside. My eyes were burning. Some smoke was in the Queens air My eyes were tearing. She was pulling me so fast, I needed to breath really hard and my lungs were burning. You could breathe normally, but I was out of breath from running. She took me into the car and turned on the windshield wiping away very light pieces of dust. I asked my mom where we were going. She told me nothing. Everyone was speeding, even my mom. No one stopped. A car bumped our rear bumper a bit but no one cared that day. Everyone wanted to go…wherever. No one knew where to go. No one knew anything. No one felt safe. We got home and my brother was home and so was my dad. We caught him just as he was about to leave. My father works for the New York City Police Department and he needed to go. I could remember my mother screaming and telling him not to go but he had to. When he left, I asked my mom if that was going to happen to us after seeing the two burning buildings on the TV. My mom starting crying and all she told me was, Jessie…”uncle” Jerry is dead. I laughed thinking it was a joke. I asked her how she knew. She pointed to where the building was burning. That’s why. I remember just going to sleep that night and thinking about everything. My dad didn’t come home for two days. My mom was hysterical, crying. Then my dad walked into my house. We all ran to him and held him close. We thought he had died that day. But sadly, we did lose a family friend. I considered him my uncle. I will never forget my burning eyes and my lungs burning. I will never forget thinking that the smoke was really fog and wondering why the fog was so hot on my face. I will never forget looking in the mirror and seeing my face darker than usual. My hair smelled like electrical fire for that whole week. I will never forget. I will never ever forget this day. No New Yorker will. For those who were able to remember it, it’s forever burned into our memories. Rest in peace uncle Jerry. We love you. We miss you.
Hey Virginia!! Sorry I just saw that you were here too
And yup, babysitting is a LOT of fun It’s actually not that bad since they’re all tired. Do you watch it on TV or do you have DVDs or something? And I’m watching Aladdin
Jessie im very very very very very very very very sorry i truly am i hope ur feeling better… im sorry… im here if u wanna talk… no one should go through something like that EVER… i hope u get better…
Jessie I’m so sorry that you had to go through that. I cannot imagine what it must’ve been like. And to not see your dad for two whole days during that time… I can’t imagine. I’m here for you too. You never have to go through this alone
Thanks for sharing your story Jessie. I’m so sorry you had to go through that, I can’t imagine. It’s one thing when you see the footage on TV, and hear the first hand accounts. But we weren’t there, so we didn’t see how bad it was, for you and every other New Yorker. I’m so, so sorry you lost your uncle Jerry. May he and every other person who lost their lives in those attacks rest in peace.
Like Virginia and Ellie said, I wish I could relate to you on what happened. Here in Philadelphia, we didn’t have the chaos that New Yorkers had. I can’t imagine it. I know this will sound lame and it doesn’t compare or add up to what you went through at all, but as Americans and friends we’re here for you in your loss
Wow, Jessie, that’s a very touching story. It had to have been really scary being there in the same city. I’m really sorry to hear about your friend. It really has to be hard to lose people like that in your life. Just remember we’re here for you.
He had to go because it’s his job but it was a very bad feeling.
You were, sort of. It was an attack on the country. Not just because they didn’t like New York.
It is different. Words can’t even explain how bad it was. My uncle Jerry wasn’t my actual uncle. That’s why I put his name in quotations. He was a very close family friend. But it doesn’t matter, because he was family to us.
Above all, thank you guys. I needed to take these two days to stay away from this place because of all the mourning besides the times I popped in. But I’m here again. It’s a great feeling knowing I have you all behind me.
EDIT:
It was scary. The worst part was it took away a lot of my innocence. Like, I was only in second grade. I didn’t see the bad in the world. I didn’t see that someone could kill so many people over something that wasn’t even worth taking lives. After that I did though.
EDIT 2:
It doesn’t sound lame. It’s very sweet. Thank you.
Jessie iam always here for u and anyone else… i dont want to see you like that ever… im glad you stayed… btw Ami sends her feelings for us and those effected by it personally she feels really bad about it she truly does… IM so glad Jessie that your back
I live in missouri so it wasn’t as bad but everyone was scared. I was 10 at the time and in the 4th grade. I remember going downstais after getting ready an my mom looked like she seen a ghost, I look to tthe TV and see a big building on fire. A litte while later, My mom made rice krispies for me and my little brother when the 2nd tower got hit. She ran to the living room scared. My dad called after that and they talk about whats happining. At school, alot og the teachers are in the libary watching a TV or listening to a rasio in the school. All of them look scared. They prinsiple told us when the first tower fell and when the second tower fell, It was scary to hear. After school it was on at my house, Im guessing my mom watched the news the whole day. It was on for days on end and it was talked about at school. I is a day we will never forget.
I was in Kindergarten when it happened. I don’t remember it myself, but kids in my class do. They say that we were dancing to some learning song. And our principle announced it over the loud speaker.
My mom was at the food store. A TV was on in the store on the news channel. She heard a woman scream who was watching, because her son was in those buildings.
Last year I had to do a report on 9/11. All I could do was stare, and realize the gravity of what had happened. It wasn’t until last year that I had seen the footage all the way through. It brought me to tears. I can’t believe this could happen in our country. As horrible as it is, it makes me feel extreme pride and patriotism for the USA. God bless America
Goodnight guys… i dont know when ill be on tomorrow ill be at a funeral… Jessie I hope your feeling bettter… and im sorry to all who have sufferd from 9/11 you all have my wishes… Goodnight guys… oh and tell Ami i love her if im not around… thanks and goodnight!
Hi guys… How is everyone? How are you now Jessie? im off to the funeral wont be back until like 7or8… bye guys see ya later… and tell Ami im extremely sorry and that i miss her and love her <3 bye guys…
It’s actually not that bad since they’re all tired. Do you watch it on TV or do you have DVDs or something? And I’m watching Aladdin 
im sorry… im here if u wanna talk… no one should go through something like that EVER… i hope u get better…
I feel awful about how I was unaffected. I hope your pain lessens.
btw Ami sends her feelings for us and those effected by it personally she feels really bad about it she truly does… IM so glad Jessie that your back