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I have lived in the States now for almost 30 years. I have a 24 year old American Son, of an American Wife, from Pennsylvania, and I only visited the World Trade Center once.
But, it was on September 1st, 2001. England had beaten Germany 5 to 1 In the Olympic Stadium in Munich. I was visiting the New York office of Alliance Consulting, a Company of my employ at the time.
On September 11th, I was supposed to fly from Phoenix to Columbus Ohio. To conclude a consulting engagement, conducted by three members of my Data Management team. A 6 week quick profiling of business competitors, and technologies and investment strategies.
But all of the planes were grounded, and there were no planes leaving the ground, planes in the air , turned around and headed back. No Air Traffic. My god the controllers have gone mad, I thought.
So imagine my horror at hearing first on the radio, and then on the tele that the World Trade Center had a plane flown into it, but it might only be that the NY Air Traffic Control crew, was overtired, overworked, underpaid, and suddenly losing it, (and direct planes into buildings) - well it was CNN - so you take it with a pinch of salt.
Fortunately, I thought, the Alliance Office is in the other building. Boy, I remember thinking at the time, They had better hurry and get out of there.
Well seems like a long time now, thinking about it. But I was watching on tele as they showed closeups (yes TV stations had helicopters in the air, filming). of the second plane flying into my Tower. Yes, the one - where I had just met the Office staff for the first time, ten days previous.
I was introduced to every single one of them, a visitor from Arizona. Fe Fi Fo Fumb - I smell the blood of an Englishman. Annoying the hell out of them, not wanting to know the score of the game, because it was taping - and I was to watch it later that night. They likely would not have cared, except I may have mentioned it once or twice during the day. Especially on the Sales Call. Me , an Englishman, selling to a New Yorker...(luverly).
I had plans to return, after the gig with Columbus had concluded. A Project Scoping presentation, based upon the one I presented at the sales call.
So anyway, after the sales call, and returning to the 102nd floor ,[http://interactive.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/Tenant-List.htm] and hiding in an Office. Likely answering emails for 3 hours. Away from the window, but not the swaying.
Thinking about watching the England, Germany game later at the Hotel.
Well I didn't watch it at the Hotel. The Salesman , Dave, had bought some beers and some pizza (and some merlot wine for me), and most of the Office staff stayed after 5pm (They normally work until 9pm) - but it was when I was leaving. And we watched my (advanced tech at the time) a link to watch a recording, on my computer. Thanks to VPN and Unix. We watched it on the largest computer screen I had ever seen (and I've been to mission command for satellites) . Most of them knew the result, and had been busting a gut, to tell me all afternoon, But - watching it on a large Tele, in a swaying building, with twenty (truly strangers, whom I was meeting for the first time. I don't even remember all of their names today. I am sure I could get them off the internet/ world wide-mostly web thingy)
I sure remember the game. Owens Hat-trick; Gerrard, Heskey's coup de grace in the 74th minute. England 5 GERMANY 1, in Munich. I was beside myself, figuratively, and literally.
And then 10 days later, a plane fly's into My building, I hadn't met our President before (Alliance Consulting), and I didn't meet him that day either - he was out meeting clients, or prospects as they say, (in that peculiar New York accent).
He wasn't in the Office either on September 11th. He had been out with Prospects the night before (at the Yankees game) and didn't make it in, before the plane struck. I did meet him like 16 weeks later. He had sold the company - and was semi-retiring to be with his family.
I left Alliance, a year or two later, because it wasn't the same company that I had joined.
But this is the Story I wish to relay.
On September 11th, Alliance Consulting, headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania receives a call from the New York Office.
They go onto speakerphone at the large Corporate Table, with speakers relaying from the New York Office. Who are calling from the large glass bowl, meeting room. You can see the New York skyline, from Above from the reception area.
It made me sick to my stomach, sway, sway sway. It was worse than being at sea. And I don't like heights (imagine). But a few Miller Lites, after the nice bottle of Merlot had gone (maybe one or two too many in the second half ), and 3 slices of New Yorks finest Pizza (delivered).
I slept at the Hotel, and caught a 9am flight returning to my home in Phoenix,Arizona. Expecting to return and see everybody, a month out. Arizona where my Alliance Office team, met with disbelieve the next day, as we were recounted the story from the many friends that we each had at the HQ in Philly.
10 days later I heard this story
" A plane has hit WTC1 and they are telling us to not panic, and to not leave the building.We are on lockdown, elevators are going down, and they are clearing the area under us.
[ Ed - one of the busiest subway stations in New York, was WTC Plaza]
The Philadelphia office staff, whom I had met a few times. My wife's family lived "Up the Street" (120 miles away). Talked reassuringly to the New York staff on the 102nd floor of the World Trade Center Building 2. Telling them that surely this was for the best. An orderly evacuation, instead of a stampede. Floor by Floor from the Top down.[There were lots and lots of Elevators (32 / 64) , some facing out, so that you see New York below you as you ride up up up, up, up, up , to the 102nd floor. It isn't even the top, and I didn't want to go, even when the receptionist offered to use a special key and ride with me up. "I don't plan on looking out of the Window." I quipped as I was staring (gaping) at the Glass Bowl conference room - and at the roofs (sic) of tall buildings, oh, there's the Chrysler Building, oooH the Empire State Building (thought that was taller than that)....
Anyway, yes I did look. And that was when I felt the swaying. Ears not Eyes - felt betrayed... IT WAS WEIRD... unforgettable.
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