September 11th means a lot to this Editor. My father was a "native New Yorker" and my mother won out in raising our family in New Jersey right across from the City and not very far from another well known New Jersey boy from Hoboken...yes, "old blue eyes"! From my home in New Jersey, our family watched in anticipation for this magnificant structure to grace the New York skyline and it was finally finished in 1970. I was just a high school student then but when I was older and able, I eventually moved into "The City" and worked in another beautiful New York landmark building..Citibank/Citicorp Center. That was where I met my husband, Brian. In fact, while we were just "dating" Brian, also with Citibank, flew in from his home in Athens, Greece and surprised me with a birthday dinner at the "top of the world"..
Windows on the World. Later, we moved into Battery Park City and from our bed, we looked up at the World Trade Center. As you can imagine, those buildings mean so very much to me, like so many other New Yorkers, Americans and people from every country in the world.
I was working for the Ambassador to the United Nations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 11th and the effect it had on everyone in the UN was something I will never forget. As I was the only American working in the UN at that time, I received phone calls from Saudis, Muslims from every country represented in the UN, and all the other nationaities expressing their deepest sorrow and to find out if I knew anyone working that day in the Towers. In fact, the Ambassador himself, not only extended the same feelings, but told me to take time off and not to come back to work until I was ready. Quite a statement huh?
I tried to find an appropriate article, photo or poem to honor those we lost on September 11th, 2001, but I couldn't find anything that expresses it better then this one that I posted last year. I do hope that if you did read it last year, you will read it again.
You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'
I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'
I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.
I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there..
I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do.. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?
Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you . But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
"ready to go.'
I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
