I dont often get talky today but for some reason I wanted to share this story. We all have stories to share today, and my story is nothing compared to the stories of people who were there or who lost loved ones that day. But I do have my own story. I was in college and working as a waitress at the Holiday Inn West Chester. I always think today about a family from Puerto Rico staying at the hotel at the time. Id served them breakfast two days prior and they were very sweet and excited to be there. That Sunday their plan was to visit Philadelphia and see all the sights. They showed me their map, one of those tourist maps pointing out all the landmarks. So when they came in on Tuesday morning they recognized me and I happily served them again. Once again they were examining their maps and talking excitedly about what they wanted to do. I asked what their plans were for the day. They showed me their map pointing out famous NYC landmarks. That was a busy morning at the hotel - we were at high capacity, I think around 80%, and when that happened the chefs prepared a small breakfast buffet as an option for the guests, but we still had people ordering a la carte as well. We were so slammed that we didnt even think turn on the TV news in the bar area when we first got in, and didnt get the chance to do so until around 8:45 (that sticks with me for some reason). My coworker was turning on Good Morning America as I was walking out of the dining room. When I came back, she told me Theres a fire at the World Trade Center, they think a plane hit the building. But at that moment it was one of those Whoa, who does that? What an idiot! situations. It was such a clear, beautiful day. How did they not see what they were flying into? We could still feel removed from it at that point. For a minute or two, and it could only have been for a minute or two in relation to the timeline of what would soon happen, we stood and watched the news. Then I thought of my little family of tourists still seated at their table and discussing their plans to tour NYC that day. I walked over and said, apologetically, I dont know if thats such a good idea today - there was an accident at the World Trade Center and things are probably going to be crazy there. The father got up to watch the news, while I went and fixed myself a plate of food from the buffet - wed slowed down by that time, it was 9:00 so the breakfast rush was over. I took my plate to the bar area to eat away from the customers. A handful of guys who worked setting up banquets at the hotel were standing near my table, watching the TV. I looked down at my food. And at just that moment, that very split second that I looked away from the TV to cut a piece of sausage (incredible the things you remember), I heard one of the guys yell Holy sh*t!. I looked up immediately and saw the fireball from the explosion of the second strike. It was on purpose! That was on purpose! the first guy yelled to no one in particular. One of the other guys turned to me and said It was a plane, it flew straight into the tower. That moment. I think any of us who were watching it live knows that feeling in that moment. That pit in the stomach. Knowing what it meant but not wanting to believe it, not even fully understanding it. Feet pounding down the hall, both the cooks coming from the kitchen and some young business types from the other direction who had heard the commotion. We all just stood there looking up at the TV mounted on the wall. I know everyone was yelling and asking questions but I dont remember the particulars, just the confusion and the fear and the anger in the voices around me. I remember little snippets after that. Finding out that they were passenger jets, that people were on them and knew what was coming...just adding to the horror. The confusion - there are planes that arent communicating, where are they? The crash at the Pentagon increasing the shock and horror and terror, wondering what would happen next. Seeing the towers fall, knowing there had to be people in there, and feeling this paralyzing sense of helplessness and sorrow. Serving two silent businessmen their lunch while tears blurred my vision. Thinking at one point that this was the end of the world. I wonder about that little family from Puerto Rico, and whether they tell people on this day that they had planned to be in the city on 9/11. I dont remember when they left the dining room - they were gone when I turned away from the TV to look at their table. Some time later I walked outside through the kitchen and sat down on an overturned crate. I looked up at the clear, blue sky. It had been such a beautiful day.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:37:23 +0000
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