In Remembrance: 9/11/01

(By Aimee)

9/11 Memorial on Staten Island
This is difficult. It is every year. Everyone has a story-some are more stinging and tragic than others. I'd like to think of mine as one of the best things that ever happened to me on one of the worst days of my life. It was 6 years ago but when I remember it, it's as if it was 6 minutes ago.

I'd prefer not to go into the details of the morning. It's the afternoon and the evening afterwards that the story really began for me.

After a morning of running from one of the falling towers, finding shelter in the Staten Island Ferry Station, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge with innumerable others, I made my way through Brooklyn- some times on foot and a bit by train- to a long line for an Express bus headed to Staten Island. I had no idea exactly where it was going or really even where Staten Island was. I just wanted to get on it and get away from the burning tip of Manhattan.

I was with my friend Christina in a line full of strangers but we were actually alone. We were able to make it on the bus-we had no idea if there would be another or even if the Verrazano Bridge would be allowing traffic. We stood in the aisle, holding on the backs of seats for balance, looking to each other for some sort of idea of what the setting sun was going to bring (we had nowhere to go).

The looks on people's faces were of confusion, profound sadness and weariness. As Christina and I were talking about what we were going to do, we were offered a ride by a man. We looked at each other with uncertainty and saw a similar look of skepticism from a woman ahead of us to her husband. Immediately she stepped in.

"Here, use my phone. You can call a hotel on Staten Island so you'll have a place to stay tonight." I don't know what it was but I instantly felt a sense of relief in her warm tone. We got off at the stop with the couple and they kindly offered to take us to the best hotel on Staten Island. After finding a 3 page waiting list at the hotel and going from one hotel to the next (remember the 'No-Tell Motel'?!), almost 3 hours later they said, 'you're coming home with us!!' Relieved and thankful, we accepted.

Let me introduce you to our saviours of the day: Tommy and Loretta O'Connor. That day they were strangers, today they are family. You see, not only did they take me in that day but once I moved to NYC they took me into their home- I lived with them for a month or so! They folded me into their social lives-their friends and family became my friends and family. Kathy and Peter, Mrs. Molfino, the O'Connors-everyone made such a poweful impact on me.

As we remember that day of such tragedy, I also remember it as a day of great hope and love. I say all this to say something to Tom and Loretta: THANK YOU. Thank you for opening your home and your lives to me. I had such a rich experience with you. You truely changed the course of my life!

As this day rolls around each year, there is a flood of mixed memories. But most of all what resonates with me is the kind, selflessness of a couple of strangers. I will always be thankful to you for this!!