As Told to Doc by Dara ... 9/11

Abner, didn’t want me to leave that morning – Dave had already left - Abner followed me around meowing, crying - getting in my way - wondered what was wrong – stones coming back or just wants company - thought about it all the way to subway - that and what a beautiful morning – sat and read on train - oblivious for most part - looked up when stopped extra long at Chambers Street on C line – under the Trade Center - man gets on there – upset, disheveled – ranting – assume a crazy – New York has plenty – shouting about smoke coming from Trade Towers - says plane hit one.- I think, possible – I think, small plane – they fly lower – man in suit – maybe not crazy – remember footage plane crashing Empire State Build in Forties – have film at Sekani. (Documentary Archive Co. where Dara worked at the time.) – mood weird when I leave train – disturbed – it’s eight something – after first plane hit – before second.

Everyone at work in conference room – watching news - join them – second plane hits tower - like in slo-mo - like my mind can’t make sense – we now know first plane not accident - reports coming in - other planes, other places – don’t remember when I called you - can’t remember when I called you – couldn’t get a line at first – e-mailed I’m okay – finally get through to David at Random House - agree to meet at friend Terrence’s in Murray Hill – get through to you then David’s parents- watch more news – all hell breaking loose - Tower’s burning and smoking – people jumping from windows, ledges – horrible.

Office in rush to find places for non Manhattanites to go – city shutting down - friend Elaine from Queens goes with me - start walking to Terence’s - everyone outside frantic, dazed looking - car doors open – radios on news - blaring everywhere - hear reports from D.C – White House – Pentagon – Pennsylvania - rumors of more - think of movie Independence Day - feels like disaster flick – looks like disaster flick – but people calmer - more subdued – eyes full of fear – sidewalks packed – hard to walk – grateful have sensible shoes - hold hands – buy water at Deli – supplies going fast – takes two hours to Terence’s – forty minute walk - beautiful day, no clouds – warm - stunning – approach Murray Hill -30’s on East side – start to see smoke in sky – people shaking soot – walking rapidly away - get to Terrence’s - David and others from RH there - Terrence cooking for all - Terrence’s father arrives - huge Chinese man – speaks little English – checking on Terence – assured okay, leaves for Long Island – we watch more news - see Bush get report – go on reading - hear Cheney and others herded underground – car outside catches fire – don’t know why – very random, very scary.

Late in afternoon learn some trains running again - worried about cats - David and I walk to F Train - looking downtown see void where Towers were – much smoke – blowing opposite direction - back in Brooklyn - all hits home - so to speak - wind now blowing towards us - ash, soot, scraps of paper making air thick - smells terrible - suddenly realize –smelling death - inhaling people - cover a/c in window with blanket – keep air and smell at bay - hold each other – watch more news – say silent prayers.

Next few nights a blur - one night huge storm - booms of thunder - so frightening - mixes with sound of fighter jets overhead - sleep impossible - expecting bombs – more attacks . offices closed – no work - city shut down for days – don’t know what to do with selves - finish painting apartment – seems a hopeful, optimistic thing to do – parents call often – want us to leave city – Dad says he’ll drive from Colorado – come get us – we tell them all no – we’re New Yorkers – we won’t be scared away.