It seemed like any other day

Nothing particularly special about it

Just an ordinary day

The sun was shining

The kids were going back to school

It was a crisp day in September

A beautiful day for that matter

The day on the calendar, Tuesday, September 11th

I was in a rush to get the kids off to school

And to get to the office

I worked downtown

Near Wall Street

A busy place where business is conducted

Each and every day

I looked at my watch

It was nearing 8:30 am

I always try to get to the office between 8:45 am and 9:00 am

Like I always do

It seems I always have lots of paperwork

So I want to make sure I get an earlier enough start

Once I get the kids to school

I start my walk towards Wall Street

I stop this morning to get a bagel and an orange juice and a newspaper to read for later

I'm waiting in a line that seems to be outside the deli but I have some time

I patiently wait

What else can I do

I promise myself one of these days

I'm going to treat myself and the kids to a little vacation

The moment I think of such peaceful thoughts

I hear this thunderous roar as if it's approaching us

It's extremely loud and deafening

I have no idea what it is but it certainly shakes me up

I leave the line and as I do I see this huge airliner

In view and I am in total shock

No planes are supposed to fly that low

I have to cover my ears the noise is so loud

Then within moments of seeing it I hear this huge crash and see this huge ball of fire

Oh My God!!

The World Trade Center has been hit!!

It's terrifying what I am seeing unfolding before my very eyes

I don't know what to think

I try to stay calm but can't process what I've just witnessed

How can this happen

What is going on

Is this a horrible accident

How could a pilot lose control of the plane just like that

It makes no sense

I call the school to make sure the kids are safe

I call my office to tell them what I just saw

I'm in total shock

Then again I hear this deafening roar a second time

Oh no not again

Oh My God!

Not again!

Another plane overhead and low to the ground

Where is it heading

Can it be

The second tower?

Oh My God!

As soon as the thought entered my mind I hear another crash and explosion

Now it is confirmed

The second tower was hit

I run for cover

We are under attack

I want my kids

I want to get out of here

What's next

I smell this horrible odor of burning jet fuel and I see actual people jumping from the windows

This can't be happening

What in the world is going on

This is no accident

This is terrorism

No doubt

I'm no expert

But there is no way two planes could have accidents like this

This was planned out

By who

I have no idea

I can't even guess

All I know is I smell death all around me

I hear sirens in all directions

I see people running away from the buildings

Screams are heard in all directions

I just want to get out of here and get my kids but I'm panicking

I don't want to be trampled on in the stampede of people coming this way

Then the horror of horrors

The towers start to fall

I am beside myself

Within moments we are surrounded by a cloud of black burning ash

I am choking as I gasp for air

I can't breath

I am overwhelmed with this poisonous black ash

My business attire all completely destroyed

I can't make a call from my cell phone

I'm here witnessing death and destruction all around me

I never thought I would ever be smack in the middle of a war zone

The day that I witnessed firsthand the

Towers falling