Back home now - Saw it with my own eyes...

Got home on Long Island a little while ago. I was on the railroad this morning when cell phones went off.
The word was spreading about the first plane hitting the WTC. We were traveling through the section of
Queens that provides an unobstructed view of the Twin Towers. I saw the fires burning near the top of
Tower Two. People were at first speculating that it was an accident.

As I continued to look at the Twin Towers, I saw the second plane hit Tower One. I saw the center section
engulfed in a ring of fire. I've since seen video footage from much closer, but seeing it with my own eyes was
the most terrible thing I've ever seen.

By the time I got to my office, almost thirty stories up in Midtown Manhattan, myself and other workers could
clearly view the burning towers from the offices on the south side of the building. People watched and cried
as each tower crumbled in turn to the ground. The collapse of Tower Two, which went first, looked like
another explosion from its midsection. When Tower One collapsed, it seemed to explode from the top down.

Telephone service was pretty much down, and I had difficulties calling my wife. Internet access was very slow.
I finally got through to my wife, who was very upset, and very relieved.

Shortly thereafter, people left to try to get home. The Long Island Railroad was not operating. All bridges and
tunnels were closed. Myself and a colleague started walking towards the 59th Street bridge, thinking maybe
pedestrian traffic might be allowed. We also avoided going too near other prominent buildings and areas such
as the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Penn Station, and Grand Central Station, etc. not knowing what
to expect.

We stopped at a place on 50th and 2nd ave where many people were viewing television reports. Here we
caught some of the various video footage that I know has been replayed throughout the day.

I was very disturbed by the footage of Palestinians on the West Bank dancing and celebrating in the streets.
I cursed loudly at the television screen.

We grabbed a quick bite (i had no real appetite to speak of), and we were taling to a woman who was right
outside the Trade Center only several blocks away when it collapsed. She was besides herself with distress
as she mentioned the many police, fireman, and emergency workers she saw underneath the falling debris.

Absolutely horrible......

Eventually, we heard reports that the Long Island Railroad had limited service out of Manhattan.
So we turned around and headed back towards Penn Station. There was indeed limited service,
and I was finally able to get on a train that limped out of Manhattan. The train ride that
usually takes 45 minutes took about 2 1/2 hours due to all sorts of delays.

I was very happy to get home.

I'm still in a state of shock over all this. The human tragedy is unimaginable. And to see these buildings wiped
off the NY skyline feels like losing a limb. I used to work at the World Trade Center and had been there many
times. I still can't believe they're gone. Things will not be the same after this. I hope we treat this like the
dastardly act of war that it is, and fully respond.

Please say a prayer for all the families and loved-ones of the victims - the airline passengers who perished so
horrifically, the workers in the buildings, the services personnel who bravely tried to help, those in DC and PA,
and all who are injured and those who still may be trapped.