I was in the middle of Motorman's training for NYC Transit at that time. We had to do road ops overnight. We left around 6:30 AM in Concourse Yard up in the N. Bronx. So, I was originally planning to go to Border's and Sbarro's in the WTC (Sbarro's was in the lower concourse of the WTC and had a great breakfast buffet). However, a guy I had an argument passed me and said, "Ray Come on, get in." So, obviously, those plans were derailed. I figgered they would always be there. So, I would go another time. Well, the traffic was murder on the FDR Driveand the Triborough Bridge, so we ended up going the scenic route down Second Ave in Manhattan once we got off the mess that was the FDR Drive (For those of you who do not know, that is the highway that runs down the East River in Manhattan from the Third Ave. Bridge to the Battery) Well, we managed to drop me off at around 8:10 AM. (I live in southern Brooklyn) I chuck off my clothes and jump into bed.
Well, I decided to sleep with my head where my feet usually are, facing the window of my room. I doze off, and then I feel something hitting me in the face. It was my cat, Troubles (May she rest in peace). I look at the clock, and it said 8:44. I put her down on the floor, and doze of again. A little while later, she is smacking me in the face again. Now, I am tired, and this cat does not get the message. It is 9:10 AM in the morning, and this cat is annoying the shit out of me! So, I put her out of my room, and close the door. About an hour later, my phone is ringing. I am wondering what a guy has to do to get some shut-eye around here. It was my Volunteer Ambulance corps, calling to tell me that the meeting was canceled that night. Big deal, I was already not going because of my training commitments. So, I slam the phone down, and go back to bed. About two hours later, another phone call. Now, I am steaming. It was my friend, Tommy. "Ray", he said, "Are you sitting down?", I said, "Tommy, I am trying to sleep. What is it?", "Ray, The World Trade Center collapsed, a planre hit the Pentagon, and another crashed in Pennsylvania, and.." I cut him off, "Tommy, I know you are not a crackhead. If you are smoking crack, I urge you to stop." "Ray, I am not kidding!", "Tommy, I had a very rough night, and it seems like the World does not want me to sleep, so, cut the shit and...", "Ray, turn on your TV.", I am about to go through the phone and choke the life out of him. "Tommy, I am going back to bed. ", "Ray, " he said, "Just turn on your TV." Exasperated, I figgered I would humor him. "OK, I will turn on my TV." So, I did. I turned on Channel 7...nothing. Channel 5....snow. I am like, "OK, who screwed around with the antenna on the roof." I keep changing channels, and getting the same thing...snow. I get to Channel 2.......
Airplane going into South Tower.
Spent the next couple of hours calling family to tell them I was OK. Then, ran to to my Ambulance Corps to run the comm desk until I went to training that night. Yes, we still had to go in! Nothing was done, but we still were required to go in. Go figure. September 12th would be bad, though.