I'm ready to tell my story.
It was a normal day for me, I spent half of my day in high school, and half working for the United States Peace Corps back then.
I played in a band that gigged at night in Manhattan clubs.
I was the drummer and I co-wrote the songs with my boyfriend
Joseph (Joey) who played guitar. He was the sweetest guy
I ever knew. He worked 3 blocks from the WTC.
That morning I started out at work, a few blocks farther away than Joey. I remember the exact moment that I heard the plane
hitting the first tower. I was sitting at my desk talking with my friend Leah who plans trips to less-fortunate countries. She was excited about her newest idea: Bangledesh. We jumped up and ran to the window, to see something horrible- like this:
(except it was the first tower- couldn't find a good enough picture)
I screamed and then we ran- I heard things along the way from
people's radios and TV's- "large plane hit the World Trade Center, lots of fire and smoke" "get to safety" and such. Much after that
I can't remember. I know I ran down the street- my destination was Joey. When the second plane hit Leah caught up to me and told me we had to run the other direction. She said it was terrorists. Later she told me I was hysterical about Joey and I struggled to get away from her, but she succeded in pulling me into a McDonalds. They were watching the TV because they said
it made it seem like it was far away. I watched in the doorway when the towers collapsed.
Then I ran towards them...I just went and I hid behind a building when that cloud of everything roared through the streets. It made a sound. I found Joey laying dead in the street
about 4 blocks from the WTC. Flying debris to the head. I lay
over him until the second tower collapsed, then a policeman picked us both up and brought us to a station. They put Joey
in a body bag and then I did what I knew I should: I ran back to
work and got in my uniform and I went down there. I helped with
the cleanup and I saw things I will never forget.
I am so happy that I helped with the cleanup, because Joey would have never wanted me to stay there with him. I think
he would have wanted me to help- he would have.
My band stopped in his honor, and I continued working and helped to plan a trip to Afghanistan to help the women there. Soon after, I found Interference, PLEBA, and the girls helped me in ways the will never know. I was able to focus my
attention on U2 and not spend my every waking moment on Joey.
So during the minute of silence, I will think of Joey, U2, and PLEBA.
PS- I know I told my story to Lilly once and she had questions for me that I gladly answered. It helps me to talk about it, so if anyone wants to ask me anything, I will answer! Thanks PLEBA