September 11, 2001 was unusual for me from the very beginning.
I took the day off from work at Morgan Stanley in Times Square (not something I did often) so that I could drive my husband to the airport. He was scheduled to take a flight from Newark Airport to San Francisco that morning to meet the singing group he manages.
However, at the last minute he decided not to go. He had some work to finish in New York City, so he decided to stay home an extra day and go to San Francisco the following day.
Since I had already taken the day off from work, we were home together when the phone ran. I answered the phone and on the other end, I heard my friend's voice calling from San Antonio, Texas. He said, "Do you know?" I asked, "Do I know what?" He said, "Turn on your TV." "What channel?" I asked. "ANY channel." So, I did. That's is when I saw the first image of smoke pouring out of the first tower.
I called out to my husband and he came running into the living room where I was and saw what I was was seeing. It was a horrible sight and we were both upset and confused by the surreal images we were seeing.
We went outside and watched the towers burn and collapse to the ground from our house.
I had an ancient camera at the time that did not take very good pictures, but I managed to snap the first two pictures you see above.
I took pictures #3 through # 8 on September 14, 2001 from Jersey City, New Jersey. Fires were still smoldering and smoke was still rising. There was a strong stench of fuel in the air and the smoke made me cough and made my eyes burn.
One month prior to the attacks, I had gotten a job offer from a company on the 106th floor of the WTC. The company was Cantor Fritzgerald. The person I interviewed with was Robin Larkey.
However, after discussing all the details with my husband, we realized that taking this new job, although very cool, would be adding an extra half hour (each way) to my already very long and difficult commute from New Jersey, therefore, I declined the job offer and remained at Morgan Stanley in Times Square.
Where were you September 11, 2001?
Photos 1-7 by Lulis Leal
Photo 8 (of me) was taken by my husband, Mitch Goldstein