n Italian PLSer in New York

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

I'm still shocked by what has happened in NYC for the loss of so many human life

and for the consequences that the attack might have on a worldwide bases.

I'm also shocked for my personal experience, which I like to share with you:

I've traveled extensively in most continents, either for business or for

tourism, but I've never been to the States and so, some time ago I expressed

that wish to my family.

Finally, accompanied by both my sisters and my brother in law, on Sunday 9th we

took off from Milan airport and after 8 hours we landed in JFK New York for a

week of vacation.

We have rented an apartment equipped for disabled and were ready for a great

week. On monday we visited the Empire State Building and it has been fantastic.

On Tuesday we were sitting in a taxi heading to lower Manhattan to reach top of

the WTC and then to the Statue of Liberty, when the terrorists hit the towers.

We were less than two miles far from the north Tower when it collapsed and even

today it's difficult for me to recall that moment. Desperation, fear,

incredulity. Everybody was crying (ourselves included) and immediately we were

pushed away

from the area.

Difficult has been to give a word of reassurance to our families in Italy

(extremely worried of course) since the telephone were out of work, then we had

to find a pre-paid card and then to queue for a phone boot.

The rest of the week has been the same as for you and the rest of the world:

watching Tv and feeling miserable, sad and furious at the same time.

We did some touring around, but of course it was not nice at all.

On Sunday 16th, our Delta flight was canceled, but we were lucky to find other

seats the same day in a flight to Rome (400 mile distant) were we rented a car.

The security at the airport was very strict (from entrance to check-in it took 4

hours) but nobody complained.

Now we hope the guilty will be taken and prosecuted and, even if nothing will be

return as it was, better days will come.

Regards

Alessandro.

P.S. Many of you already know me, and even if I haven't contributed much in the

past months, I keep reading daily your messages.

For the new ones this is a brief description:

name Alessandro, Italian, 43 years old, married with one child, Riccardo ten

years old.

First symptoms june '96 on left leg. Dx on february '97. Use of cane in 98 and

wheelchair bound since 2000. Today I can walk indoor with the the help of my

wife (primary caregiver) and upper body is mildly affected. Sometime shortness

of

breath occurs.

I retired in April 2000 and reducing the stress has helped a lot to improve

quality of life.