I looked up and said, "Hundreds of people died today. My wife's family is Jewish, and her grandparents talk about the Holocaust and the ability of humans to be cruel and kill one another. This is a part of a pattern of human behavior, I told myself. And I just happen to be very close to this one. Maybe it seems an odd reaction in hindsight. But I was just trying to grab on to something, some sort of logic or justification, rather than let it all overwhelm me. I was raised Irish-Catholic, and I consider myself a spiritual person.
I did thank God for getting me out of there for my kid. But I also tend to be a pretty logical thinker. I'm alive because I managed to find a space that had enough support structure that it didn't collapse on me. I'm alive because the psycho in the plane decided to hit at this angle as opposed to that angle.
I'm alive because I went down this stairwell instead of that stairwell. I can say that now. But at that moment, I was just trying to give myself some sanity. I was still running when I heard another huge sound. I didn't know it at the time, but it was the other tower— my tower—coming down. A cop on the street saw me and said, "Buddy, are you okay?
Aside from being caked with dust, I had blood all over me that wasn't mine. He was trying to help, but I could tell he was shocked by what he was seeing. I was looking for a pay phone to call my wife, but every one I passed was packed. My wife never entertained for a minute that I could be alive. She had turned on the TV and said, "Eighty-first floor.
Both buildings collapsed. There's not a prayer. Is he going to be a reminder of Mike every time I look at him? Finally, I got to a pay phone where there was a woman just kind of looking up. I shoved her out of the way. I guess it was kind of harsh, but I had to get in touch with my family. I dialed Boston and a recording said, "Six dollars and twenty-five cents, please.
I got his voice mail. I'm alive! Call Jenny! Let everyone know I'm alive! I started running toward where my brother Chris worked at NYU. I'm the last of six in my family. The two oldest are girls, the four youngest, boys. Chris is the second oldest above me. The classic older brother.
The one who'd put you down and give you noogies. He probably would have had the best view of the whole thing going on. But he'd left his office, thinking, My brother is dead. He walked home to Brooklyn across the Manhattan Bridge, unable to look back. He tried and tried and couldn't get through to Boston. I said, "I gotta get to NYU" and left him. But he kept calling Boston and eventually got through to my family. At that point, four of my five siblings were at the house.
My wife's father was on his way from New York with a black suit in the car. The people at NYU took me in. They were great. I said, "I don't need anything. Just call my family. They couldn't, they couldn't.
Finally, they got through. I said, "Jenny, it's me. It was this voice I'd never heard before in my life. And I was saying, "I'm alive. I'm alive.
I love you. Then the phone went dead. At that point, I went into the bathroom to clean myself off, and suddenly I couldn't open my eyes anymore. They were swollen. I knew I wasn't blind, but if I opened my eyes toward any amount of light there was intense, intense pain.
I didn't feel this while I was running. It seemed to happen as soon as I was safe and the adrenaline came out of me. At the NYU health center, the doctors said, "Yeah, your eyes are scratched to shit. I wound up having fiberglass splinters taken out of my eyes. Chris came back from Brooklyn to pick me up, and I held on to him and hugged him. Later, he said, "You know, Michael, this is why I stuffed you in sleeping bags and beat on you all those years as a kid.
Just to toughen you up for something like this. When we got back to my place, I collapsed and it all hit me. I cried like I've never cried in my life. I finally let loose, and it felt better. My brother helped me pack, and we got to Westchester, where my wife and family had gone. Jenny came running to the door. I can remember hearing the dum, dum, dum, dum, dum of her footsteps.
My mother was there. My dad. My father-in-law. They all hugged me. Then they gave me my son. I could tell by the noises he was making that he was happy. I hugged him and sort of started the healing process there. Later, I went to Maine to sit by the ocean for a few days and get my head together. I saw all of my old friends. It was amazing. Everyone I know in my life has called me to tell me they love me. It's like having your funeral without having to die. For a while right after, I wondered, How the hell am I going to work again?
How am I going to give a damn about selling someone a T-1 line? I had a list of people who were going to be my business for the next year, hundreds of people, all on my desk—blown up. For the life of me, I can't dredge up those names.
That will cost me a quarter of my income, maybe more. You know what? Who cares? I'm alive and I'm here. A big deal has gone to big deal. I lost a friend in 2 World Trade Center. He was one of those guys you liked as soon as you met him. Howard Boulton. Beautiful person. His baby was born three months ahead of mine. He was on the eighty-fourth floor and I was on the eighty-first.
The last conversation he had with his wife was by telephone. He told her, "Something happened to 1 World Trade Center.
It's very bad. I don't think Michael Wright is okay. I'm coming home. I like to think that he heard a rumble like I heard a rumble and then he was gone. I went to his funeral. To see his wife and his baby—it would have made you sad even if you didn't know him. But it was much more loaded for me. Here was a perfect reflection of what could've been. The second bomb cyclone in a week could bring heavy snow and high winds to Atlantic Canada through Saturday. The Alabama coach's Crimson Tide lost to Georgia in the national championship game.
New reports are showing that the Shenandoah Valley will most likely be seeing some snow come Sunday. Close this content. Read full article. September 9, , AM. Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting. Recommended Stories. Atlanta Black Star. This short account tells of one woman's account of being inside the World Trade Centre during the Terror attacks back in It gives an interesting insight into what went on inside the towers and the conditions faced by those trying to escape - an insight I haven't read anywhere else before so found really interesting.
It was amazing to read This book is a shortened version of 'Between heaven and Ground Zero', another book written by Haskin but by being short it doesn't seem to loose anything. It was amazing to read that the flames from the planes had made it so low down in the buildings and that the rumblings and creakings from the buildings structure were there throughout.
Haskin is a religious lady, and she litters her account with quotes from the bible. I'm not religious at all, but these quotes fitted perfectly with the account being given and really added to the poignancy of what was being said.
Although short, this was a really good account of what happened in the towers - very informative, poignant and emotional - emotions that really apply to the whole world that day. Aug 17, Sheila rated it really liked it Shelves: kindle , biography , nine-eleven.
This was offered free on kindle, so I downloaded it in honor of the upcoming 10th anniversary of September 11th.
A very emotional and graphic look at the horror of the day, told by one survivior. Leslie doesn't pull any punches, and describes in detail what she saw.
I appreciated the fact that her story starts the morning of Sept. Her description of the buildings, which I never had a chance to This was offered free on kindle, so I downloaded it in honor of the upcoming 10th anniversary of September 11th.
Her description of the buildings, which I never had a chance to see in person, were beautiful, and I appreciate her giving this look at them before they were destroyed. Sep 10, Jud rated it it was amazing. I just finished 'escape from the world trade centre'. I got it free probably in sept I wouldn't say it was good as such as that feels like the wrong way to describe it, it was harrowing, eye-opening but also a little uplifting.
It made me realise just how overwhelming it must have been for the victims, survivors and witnesses at the time and there is no way anyone who wasn't there could possibly begin to understand what it was like but it is a glimpse into it from one persons perspective. It is a personal account of 1 persons experience and that experience included a reconciliation with God, it's not 'preachy' but there are bible verses included and the authors faith obviously played a large part through out that day and the many that, luckily for her, came after it.
May God bless all those left behind and welcome home those who were taken from us. Mar 06, Amanda rated it really liked it Shelves: short-stories. I remember watching the first footage of this attack and later feeling sick at the thought of it having been intentional.
I don't think anyone can imagine how traumatic experiencing anything like this could be. Leslie Haskin has documented her experience quite well in this e-book short. If someone can live through such a tragedy and develop any sort of meaning or strength from it then I'm definitely all for it. This event must have been very difficult for her to write about and yet, I imagine wo I remember watching the first footage of this attack and later feeling sick at the thought of it having been intentional.
This event must have been very difficult for her to write about and yet, I imagine would be part of a very long and almost impossible healing process. I am thankful to her for writing about her experience because those of us who don't live in the U. It really has humanized the event for me. Jul 14, MB Hubbard rated it it was amazing. Leslie Haskin's horrifying account of her narrow escape from the World Trade Center on September 11, is unforgettable. Haskin begins her account describing her commute, her daily routine, and the appearance of the building on her last day at her job in the World Trade Center.
Her account is both heart wrenching and poignant. The tale of her escape is both horrific, terrible, and amazing. Haskin describes in detail the horrible things she witnessed, from the deaths and dead bodies, to the br Leslie Haskin's horrifying account of her narrow escape from the World Trade Center on September 11, is unforgettable. Haskin describes in detail the horrible things she witnessed, from the deaths and dead bodies, to the brave fireman who climbed the tower to their untimely deaths.
This is a book you will not want to put down. A must read for any history buff, or anyone who just wants to know more about what happened that fateful day. It is very difficult to review this kind of book, because of its extremely personal nature. This one is basically a journal of thoughts, feelings and events and a fascinating one at that.
It's well written, fast moving, well formatted for kindle, at least and, of course, heartbreaking. We all know what happened in New York on September 11, , but reading inside accounts of it from survivors is always wrenching. This is a short book, so it's a quick read. Note that it contains a lot of Bible q It is very difficult to review this kind of book, because of its extremely personal nature.
Note that it contains a lot of Bible quotes, so if you don't like that sort of thing you might want to pass this one by or skip over them while reading.
Jul 13, Alison rated it really liked it. I have decided not to rate this book as the subject matter makes it hard for me to do so. The author Leslie Haskin, describes in a detailed way what she went through on that fateful day.
She worked on the 36 floor of tower one and her description though very graphic describe her and manys experience so well. It definitely was a I have decided not to rate this book as the subject matter makes it hard for me to do so.
It definitely was a harsh reminder not to take life for granted as the anniversary of this tragedy approaches. Aug 19, Josh rated it really liked it. I like Leslie's writing style and her knack for turning descriptive phrases. If she had stuck simply with the narrative of the events of Unfortunately, there were various scriptures and flashbacks that seems a little disjointed with the rest of the narrative.
And I love the scriptures and I love a good flashback I just couldn't always follow how it fit in. Other than that I've always been interested to he Riveting. I've always been interested to hear survivor stories from that horrible day. Aug 23, Mary rated it liked it Shelves: non-fiction , kindle-freebie. This book was both horrifying to read and hard to put down at times. A quote from the book sums up why it was so intriguing: "Tragedy is a bizarre irony in that it can be fascinating, mesmerizing, and at the same time heart wrenching.
Jun 29, Terri Davis rated it it was amazing. An amazingly rich true story of the reality of what people went through on September 11, in the World Trade Center Twin Towers. I truly felt like I was there with the author, seeing and feeling everything she went through.
Such a gut-wrenching story, and yet I couldn't put it down. Stories such as this should be compiled and saved as a testament to those who survived that day, as well as those who lost their lives.
The courage displayed throughout the pages of this book are the true America An amazingly rich true story of the reality of what people went through on September 11, in the World Trade Center Twin Towers.
The courage displayed throughout the pages of this book are the true American spirit. Sep 14, Bob Allen rated it really liked it. Clearly a journal rewrite. Focuses less on details and more on feelings. Very real and very raw emotions and reactions. Talks about her feeling guilty for not helping others but doesn't dwell on that in a morbid way.
Some reviewers haven't liked the back and forth of the story. I felt like it added to an understanding of how Haskin reacted to the terror act. As a whole, the book didn't flow smoothly, but, while it may not have been intentional, it is li Clearly a journal rewrite.
As a whole, the book didn't flow smoothly, but, while it may not have been intentional, it is likely how one's thoughts would run in the midst of this kind of tragedy. Readers also enjoyed. Biography Memoir. North American Hi About Leslie Haskin. Leslie Haskin. Leslie's story begins in Chicago The youngest girl of a family of fifteen, she describes herself an outspoken, independent thinker who was always in trouble. Leslie excelled in college and in business. By , she was one of only two African American executives for one of the largest insurance companies in the country.
Living all the privilege of an executive's life, Leslie surrounded hersel Leslie's story begins in Chicago The youngest girl of a family of fifteen, she describes herself an outspoken, independent thinker who was always in trouble.
Living all the privilege of an executive's life, Leslie surrounded herself with all of the "right" people and "right" things. Then at am on the morning of September 11, , everything changed. Leslie was in her office on the 36th floor of Tower One when a Boeing airplane slammed into her building, her friends From that precise second, time was both accelerated and suspended as that once privileged corner office sky, filled with furniture, paper and unimaginable things.
Panic was instantaneous, and a mad dash toward the exit stairs began. She closed her eyes and prayed, "God help us. She became homeless with her son, Eliot Hill.
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