It’s hard to believe that the anniversary of the World Trade Center attack was 7 years ago. I was part of this tragic day, and remember the sites and sounds, but the aftermath is what really hurt me the most. I remember taken the #1 train downtown to West Houston St. and the train stopped. The conductor or what we call them “motormen” advised us that there was a catastrophe and he couldn’t go in to details.

The train finally pulled into our station and we all walked up to the street level. I noticed that people were all staring North. I looked in the same direction and saw a flume of smoke bellowing from the North Tower of the WTC. I was assuming that a transformer or explosion accrued, but after hearing what others said about a plane hitting the North Tower I was not at all surprised. I always thought that something such as a plane would eventually hit one of the towers because of all the plane traffic from Newark, LaGuardia, and Kennedy.

I walked around only 150 yards away from the North Tower and stared up for a very long time. My eyes were focused until I saw a black object in the corner of my left eye and it was a United Commercial Plane. The plane was close, but figured the pilot was giving the passengers a close view of the North Tower fire. Not at all, and you know what happened next. It was horrifying to see what transpired; my heart fell hard and fear grew so fast.

On the morning of 9-11 after the South Tower had collapsed from the fiery fire we all started to run to escape from the flume that seemed to travel so fast catching most of us from behind. We ran North up the West side highway to escape from any other danger. We all walked backwards watching the North Tower and when we approached 14 St., It happened, the North Tower Collapsed, again we continued north. All trains and downtown bridges were closed, and the only way out was the 59 St. bridge which was a long walk. We were very lucky that day, but not as lucky as those who perished from the WTC tragedy.

We tried to hail a cab, but knew it would be like winning a lottery to get a cab, but luck was on our side. We were able to get a cab to take us out to Long Island where we all lived. I arrived at home at 3:40 PM, 5 hours from the time we ran up the West Side Highway.

Two days later the sorrow and heavy heart hit me. I normally traveled with my four friends and we always sat in the 5 seater on the Long Island Railroad on our way into the city. We would always play cards into the city and on the way home. On this day I was the only one sitting in the five seater. I figured or was hoping that my friends were just off until the smoke and dust settled in downtown Manhattan. My fiends all worked downtown. Two of my friends worked for Canter Fitzgerald, One worked as a Chef at Windows on the World and my other friend worked as a maintenance engineer at the WTC North Tower.

Five days later and still no sign of my friends, I watched CNN everyday to get the latest news on who has perished from this horrific day. Reality hit me so hard that my throat began to close and my heart stood still for a second. One name, than two, than three scrolled across the TV screen. Three of my friends were found, but were all found dead. I felt so many feelings and my heart was so heavy, but I also felt guilty for surviving.

Three weeks have passed and my own world had crumbled, as I found out that my wife and friend for 14 1/2 years was having an affair for more than a year. They say things come in three’s and they do. Almost one year to the day I was laid off from Merrill Lynch due to the fallout from 9-11 after working over 15 years there. I am still a fan of Merrill Lynch and wish them all the best as they provided me the experience that has assisted me in my career today to succeed. I moved to Las Vegas and lived there for over 4 years as the job market in New York was poor. I now live in the Chicago area and I have started a new life and hope to make a difference for my new company.

Much of the story has been summarized and for good reason as it was hard enough to say this much.

God Bless my friends, you will never be forgotten. Jimmy I will never forget that Royal Flush on the Deal!

Love all of you!