Thank you, manny, for sharing that. For all the ugliness of the day, it was good to finally read something that could bring a smile.
This thread brought out the tears for the 1st time today. I needed that. Thank you, Manny. God bless us all.
Thank you, manny. My faith in the human race may make it through today after all thanks to you. I’m glad to see you’re ok.
–John
Walked out of my apartment at 10:00 this morning, totally oblivious, ran into a huge group of people at the end of my block. “Hey, what’s going on?” “Someone crashed two planes into the WTCs. Turn around. Tower 1 is down.” “Oh”
But everyone is calm, stores are open. People are taking turns using the few working payphones, trading tips on which phone cards work, which don’t. Random people have bought carts of jugs of water, giving it out to people travelling by foot. There are probably seven major hospitals within ten blocks of me, all of them are flooded with volunteers. There is a mass exodus on foot, heading toward the major train stations, but no panic. This may be (hopefully) the biggest terrorist attack of the century, but New Yorkers need to get home, so the pragmatic consider it the world’s biggest traffic jam.
I was frantic: my SO was in for dental surgery, and needed an escort home due to after effects of anesthesia. I couldn’t get to him, couldn’t contact him, my home phone is down and none of the payphones work without a Bell Atlantic calling card. But the people at the dentist’s stayed open until I could get there on foot, they happily accepted my frantic, repeated, collect calls, and everyone is now home and safe. (I’m a little confused why they went ahead with the surgery, given the circumstances, but, hey!, it’s done.)
This will probably change the world. But here in New York, people will continue to get shit done, regardless.
mischievous
I just went to our local Red Cross center to donate. I have type “O”, so figure I had no choice. I filled out paperwork and got a number. There are 210 people in front of me. I’m home and will go back in a few hours. THIS is how America pulls together.
In the DC Metro / N Virginia area, the Red Cross and INOVA hospitals are turning blood donors away asking them to come back later – lines are around the buildings and they are anticipate a 5, 6 even 7 hour wait for people–and people are staying. Sometimes humanity gives us a good surprise in the midst of tragedy.
So very glad, manny, to hear that you are all right. As well as all of the other NYC Dopers. When all hell was breaking loose this morn, I thought about you, and hoped that you were okay.
Now, I just hafta get through to another, non-SD related, friend and make sure that she’s okay.
Again, so very glad that you are all right.
Waste
Flick Lives!
Thank you! Thank you for being the one to realize this, and share it. Despite being far from the tragedies today, the people at my school banded together in a celebration of community and love.
We were all shaken by what happened, and as news continued to come in we gathered silently around TV sets in the library and certain classrooms. After Fox showed the film of people leaping from the building, I went to the bathroom to vomit. After I did this I realized that there were people huddled together crying for what had happened to their fellow human beings. I joined them, and we supported each other in silence.
Throughout the day, I heard only a few angry comments at all, and they were met with such disgust by the rest of us that even they seemed to be there to strengthen us. Love isn’t dead, it’s stronger than ever. I love everyone around me, and it’s great to know that we hurt and love together.
I hugged so many people today, and it helped me stay together as I tried to contact my relatives in NY (Everyone’s OK I found out when I talked to Mom!). When I watched the people helping each other on the streets, and heard that not one case of looting or lawlessness had been reported, my heart swelled for us as a species.
((((The Whole Wonderful Beautiful Fucking World!!))))
Hoo.
LC
It’s good to know that even we Americans to be decent to each other in an event of this magnitude.
Thank you for posting this, manny. You are one of a kind, and I’m extremely glad to hear that all you NYC boys and girls are going to be alright. I was worried about you all.
Amen.
And thank you as well.
Mayor Guiliani said earlier that New Yorkers have showed today that they are among the best people on earth. It’s good to know he was right.
All best, manny.
I’ve posted this in other threads, but today just reinforces my pride in being an American. We tend to apathetically go through our day but in the time of crises, we can pull together like no other country in the world.
Thank you manhatten and all of the other posters today that have had the presence of mind to remind us what a great country we have.
Ruby
You’ll be glad to hear that people in Cincinnati were similarly lined up out the door and out into the streets to donate blood. I know, cause I waited with them and gave blood. And might I humbly suggest writing a check to the Red Cross.
These terrorists may have brought us to our knees, but they’ll NEVER knock us down.
Let freedom ring–everywhere.
Thank you for posting this, manhattan. Your experience has helped renew my faith in people. I’m glad you’re OK.
Thanks for the story, Manny. But I’m not really surprised. New Yorkers may cheerfully kick each other in the nuts over whether to root for the Yankees or the Mets, or come to blows over where the best pizza in the city is, but they only act this way over the trivial crap. When the hard times strike, they have hearts and souls bigger than any other people on earth. Your experience proves this.
And as for people in general, as I drove down the Thruway from Orange County this evening, signs were advising motorists that all non-emergency vehicles had to exit at Exit 8 (just after the Tappan Zee Bridge). Emergency personnel from all over the area (New Jersey and Connecticut, too, no doubt) were streaming into the City to help however they could. In fact, Mrs. Dave-Guy informed me that on her way home from a truncated day at work in Westchester, extra lanes on the bridge were opened for NY-bound vehicles.
Nobody pulls together like we do in time of need. The heroism and bravery yet to come will be an inspiration long after this day has become but a horrific memory.
Thanks for posting this, Manny. Reading it finally cut through the numbness and started the tears.
Watching the coverage was illuminating. Just after the first tower collapsed a newsman showed a street full of firefighters and rescue workers running TOWARD the scene, where they knew damned well hundreds of their fellows were under the collapse.
Just a few minutes later the second tower came down.
I’ll never forget that they knew how dangerous it was and still ran flat to help.
Every scene showed a distinct lack of panic, everyday people helping one another, just generally being decent human beings.
I’m not to anger yet; still stuck in horror and pity. It’s good to remember the strength, decency and grit of “ordinary” people.
Veb
Thank you Manny. It’s good to see us pulling together.
I am not old enough to donate blood yet, so I am giving money to the red cross tomorrow.
Doug
I just think that it is amazing how wonderful people are being. The overflow in blood donater’s just makes me so proud. Sure, the whole country is in shock, but we take on the same attitude that we had in the Revolutionary War. You wanna come fuck with us!? Well, we are just going to show what amazing people we are.
Instead of people going off, hiding in the woods and fending for themselves, masses of people are going out to do what they can. Donating blood, time, and sometimes there own well being (in the case of the rescue workers) to help others. God Bless America. We sure do know how to pull together in a crisis. Those terrorists didn’t know what they got themselves into, but they will find out.
manny, that was beautiful.
Robin
Thank you, manhattan.
To you and everyone that was directly in the line of fire, and to any and all that lost loved ones, friends or acquantances, know that you are in the thoughts, minds, hopes and prayers of so very many of us.
I wish you continued safety and peace.
-Eric