Julius Ballanco describes his emotions while watching a national tragedy unfold.
My wife, Judie, and I arrived at our health club early the morning of September 11. We wanted to get a good workout completed before heading to the office. We watched in horror as the televisions showed the results of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center. As we watched, a second plane appeared on the screen, crashing into the second tower. My wife grabbed me and said, "Let's go!"
We got to our van with my wife in tears. It was Tuesday, the day our son heads to the NYU Library to complete his research for his Masters degree. As a student at Stevens Institute of Technology, in Hoboken, New Jersey, Josh takes the PATH train that arrives in the basement of the World Trade Center. I kept assuring my wife that it was too early for Josh. He normally goes later in the day. All the time, hoping that I was correct.