I had a DDS appt. that morning – where we heard about the attacks. I left he dentist and headed to work (50 minute drive). I was unsure what was happening and kept listening to the radio. My sister and brother-in-law work in mid-town Manhattan – so I called my mother to see if she had heard from them. When I got my mother’s message machine – I began to cry – telling her to try to get in touch with my sister. I then called my husband, who was watching it at work, and described the fires to me (they hadn’t fallen yet). I remember driving into the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and thinking I shouldn’t be there – afraid it could be attacked. When I did arrive at work I began frantically calling EVERY number I had for my sister and brother-in-law – unable to get through. I sent my sister an email – not thinking it would go through. She replied about 15 minutes later that she was fine – and she and my brother-in-law were going to start walking home (to Brooklyn!). She emailed me back 3 1/2 hours later saying they were home – and that the sea of people walking over the Brooklyn Bridge was amazing. The shocking thing was turning around to look at Downtown Manhattan and seeing the smoke and debris floating in the air – very eery! My husband had gone home early that day to meet my daughter when she got home from Middle School (our area schools got out of school early – and didn’t go back to school for several days).

When I left work (during afternoon rush) – the roads were almost empty – and I got home in record time. The electronic signs on 695 and 97 were all saying that there was no traffic allowed in NYC – it was so strange to read that. When I got home – I remember holding my daughter for so long – and crying. Then I saw everything on TV for the first time – and I couldn’t stop crying all evening. Truly, a day I’ll never forget.