My 9/11 Memory

Today marks 19 years since that terrible attack on the World Trade Centre in New York.

It was a Tuesday – a warm September day. Roger & I were running Catton Old Hall our guest House. We had finished the guest rooms and were prepared for new guest arrivals. I was sitting in the office doing admin. Our daughter Joolia who was heavily pregnant with our first grand child had come over to visit. Joolia & Gary we’re managing the Ribs of Beef for us at that time. It was around 1pm She put on the tv in the kitchen and made a cup for us both. A news announcement broke into the program she was watching. She called me through to what I thought was a film she was watching, it took a few seconds to register! Mum she exclaimed this is New York now … just as another plane hit…. you must call James. Our son James lived in New York and was general Manager of a restaurant La Goulue in Upper Eastside. I called him, he was already at work, it would have been 9.30 am there. He was ok thank God, miles away from the situation. Leslie his partner, now his wife, was due to be at the World Trade Centre that morning for a breakfast meeting! By a sheer twist of fate she missed it and wasn’t there. Leslie’s Father Michael however was downtown and although unhurt had to walk miles back home, dazed & shaken and covered in that awful dust cloud we all remember as all transport was suspended. Shortly after our call to James email and telephone signals then went down. That was the last communication I had with my son until the Friday. We visited New York a few months later. We visited the site, you couldn’t get close of course but close enough, you could still smell burning fuel. We just needed to pay our respects. It was a sight never to be forgotten. We have on our many visits to James since visited the memorial. In 2016 I took my granddaughter Aspen to New York for her 15th birthday. She was eager to visit the memorial. I was touched by her sad but respectful interest in the names of the fallen & we spent several quiet hours there. To think that happened just days before you born! Respect to the USA citizens for the recovery from that unjustified attack.