Randy raised his flute of champagne. “Happy Anniversary,” he said with a smile. I raised mine in return. We touched glasses. It was June 7th, 2000. Randy and I sat in “Windows on the World”, the sky top restaurant in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
“I can’t believe we’re 106 stories up,” I said, looking out, but not quite able to look down. It was high, unsettling, scary high.
Small planes and helicopters flew below us. The Hudson River flowed in the distance with tugboats, ocean liners, and barges. The sky darkened and lights from buildings and bridges came on, giving a fairytale feel to the evening. It was like dining in heaven.
Waiters bustled about in crisp white uniforms. They were formal, but welcoming.
All around couples and families and large parties talked and laughed and took pictures. Every so often the flash of a camera went off as people posed to commemorate a birthday or anniversary or just being in one of the most famous restaurants on the planet.
Joseph was our waiter. He was thin and wiry with brown hair and a mustache. He looked to be in his early forties. When he learned it was our anniversary, he kept the wine flowing.
“Where are you folks from?” he asked, refilling our glasses. He had a New York accent and I could tell he’d grown up around the city. “We’re from Connecticut,” I answered. “What about you?”
He smiled. “I’m from Queens. I live with my wife and two daughters.”
That night Randy and I dined on steak and lobster. Everything was delicious. Before dessert, my husband presented me with a mauve-colored jewelry box. I opened it to find a beautiful ring to celebrate our 20 years together. I slipped it on my finger.
I had no idea my husband had gone to all this trouble to make this night so special. We’d only been to this restaurant once before. I told Randy we had to come back. This place was too cool not to visit every year. We should bring our boys. Randy agreed.
At that moment Joseph appeared with a small chocolate cake inscribed with “Happy Anniversary” in gold letters. A sparkler lit the top.
I blew out the flame thinking what a perfect end to a perfect evening. When we realized we couldn’t finish it all, Joseph took the cake away. He returned with it in a small gold cardboard box. “You can’t leave this behind,” he said with a wink.
We thanked him, vowing to return. Maybe we’d see him again.
“Come back anytime,” he said, “but I usually work the morning weekday shift. I’m up with the birds. They called me tonight to fill in.”
That was our last visit to the World Trade Center. I still remember the solid feel of those buildings. The elevators would whoosh to the top in seconds. Everything seemed so massive, so indestructible.
Many people, including myself, couldn’t walk too close to those windows. The distance to the street was unimaginable.
“Windows on the World” has been gone many years now. And yet it still exists in my mind like a ghost-ship. I can still hear the clink of glasses and murmur of voices. I still see the cameras flash as people pose to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and just-happy-to-be-alive days.
No one could have imagined what was to come. It was like we were celebrating the end of an era, although we had no way of knowing.
Sometimes I think of Joseph. I hope he was one of the lucky ones. I hope he wasn’t in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was a nice guy from Queens with a wife and two daughters.
Someone told me there’s a site that lists the waitstaff from “Windows on the World” who perished. But I could never bring myself to look.
The ring Randy gave me is a beautiful reminder of a beautiful evening. But it’s also a reminder of time gone by. And its a reminder of Joseph. We said our goodbyes to him that night and vowed to maybe come for breakfast someday.
“You do that,” he said with a bright smile and wave. “I’ll be right here.”
Were you ever in this wonderful restaurant or the World Trade Center? Comments are always welcome!! And if you like, please share… thank you.
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Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski
I was never in the restaurant but went up to the top of one of the Towers in 1972 before it was officially open. It was hard to imagine that even a plane could take it down.
Laurie Stone
Rebecca, Yes, many people have wondered how that could’ve happened, taking each tower down like that.
Diane
Your Joseph lived to raised those two daughters. But I’m thinking today of the thousands of ‘Josephs’ who didn’t. What a terrible day.
So happy you have a sweet memory to go along with the sadness!
Laurie Stone
Diane, I want to believe Joseph made it. But you’re right. So many didn’t make it that awful day.
Carol Cassara
This is so moving. I hope Joseph was a lucky one, too. But I wouldn’t be able to resist looking. It was a terrible day. Many blessings out to all who lost a loved one or who were lost.
Laurie Stone
Carol, It was beyond sad and hope he made it.
Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski
I went up to the top of the World Trade Center in 1971 when it wasn’t finished yet. At the top, the windows hadn’t been put it. I couldn’t go near the edge. I can’t even imagine what it was like to be there so close to when they came down. I was in New Orleans 4 months before Katrina so I guess it’s kind of the same. Hope Joseph had the day off.
Laurie Stone
Rebecca, Yikes. I can’t imagine those windows without panes! How scary. I couldn’t go near them finished.
Diane
Layering good mamories over bad. It’s what we need to do to soften them. Love this story!
Laurie Stone
Diane, Thank you. Yes, this memory is both beautiful and tragic.
Teri
So moving. Gripped me. I too hope he was able to make it out. I really wish you could find out. The suspense is overtaking me. I wonder if you sent this to one of the morning shows if they can find out! It would be such a beautiful segment to refine you guys. I really think it would mean something.
Also, I would love to know.
(Yes, I have a flair toward the dramatic) 🙂
Laurie Stone
Teri, I did look once (much later than this was written) and didn’t see his name, thank God. I want to believe he was one of the lucky ones.
Lauren
I hope Joseph is still alive. I was so sad reading this. My parents took me as a little girl but I really don;t remember it. Sadly. I didn’t move to NYC until 2007.
Laurie Stone
Lauren, Any time is nice to live in NYC. Wish I’d done it when younger, but Randy won’t hear of it now. I also hope Joseph is still alive.
Diane Tolley
This just makes me cry. So many things lost on that terrible day. It’s so wonderful that you have a good memory to overlay it. We desperately need to hang onto those !
Laurie Stone
Diane, Sometimes I look at that beautiful ring Randy gave me and think of that day and those towers. So sad.
Christine
A lovely memory. I went to that restaurant one time about 30 years ago. I’m glad to have had the experience. And I still can’t believe its gone. 🙁
Laurie Stone
Christine, I can’t believe its gone either.
Diane
Oh, my goodness, Laurie! I never had the opportunity to be near the World Trade Centre. Husby and I visited New York once only and never made it off Broadway. I’d love to have this memory. Thank you for sharing yours.
P.S. I guess it’s the journalist in me, but I hope you don’t mind that I went to the list. Joseph is not on it.
Laurie Stone
Diane, I also checked and thankful to say I didn’t see Joseph either. Some guests left the restaurant minutes before the plane hit and they alone survived. Shiver.
Haralee
I have not made myself tour the area now, even though I have seen pictures and it looks lovely. Maybe if I had more time in NYC….
Laurie Stone
Haralee, Went to the 9/11 memorial and its so sad. They have these big downward-directed fountains where the towers used to stand. First time I went to the towers was in the early 80’s with my father (now deceased). Every time I see those fountains, I think of him.
Carol Cassara (@ccassara)
So moving, Laurie.
Jade Panugan
This is such a moving piece Laurie. Thank you for sharing your memories. I’m curious where is Joseph today.
Laurie Stone
Hi Jade, I want to believe Joseph was nowhere near the towers that day. Thanks for reading.
Rena
What a beautiful memory! I had never been there before but it sounds amazing. I’d love to explore NYC even though I’ve been a couple of times I didn’t get to far.
Laurie Stone
Rena, New York is wonderful. I never grow tired of it, although I’ve never lived there either. You have to come visit again!
Haralee
What a nice tribute Laurie in this post. Yes my husband and I wandered in one time and he was not wearing a port coat and was given one to wear as we ate! Doesn’t that sound so old fashioned now? It must have been in the early 80s. Interestingly my husband never let that happen again!
Laurie Stone
Haralee, It was such a special place. Can’t believe it doesn’t exist anymore. And yes, making your husband wear the “proper” jacket does sound very old-fashioned.
Shari
My sister got engaged in that restaurant. What a view it had. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Laurie Stone
Shari, It was beautiful. I’ll never forget it, and am grateful I got to go there.
Rosemond
I lived in NY and went to that restaurant several times. It was always so special to be there. The view (I couldn’t get too close to the windows either). The elevators felt like rocket ships, it took all my courage to just ride them to the top. It doesn’t seem like it’s actually gone. I haven’t been back to the site, I’ve been to NY many times since but haven’t ventured down to that area. Maybe because in my mind, I want to keep it there somehow. Lovely remembrance.
Laurie Stone
Rosemond, I also haven’t seen the new Freedom Tower up close. I will one of these days, but there’s something so poignant about it, it gives me pause.
Thanks for reading.
Anna Palmer
I have often thought of Windows on the World since the bombing. The towers weren’t merely offices and points in our skyline. They were also a great place of celebration and memories. Which adds yet another level of poignancy to this life changing event.
Laurie Stone
Yes Anna, I still see and hear that restaurant so clearly in my mind. I think of it with such poignancy.
Lizzi
Beautiful, beautiful memories. I’m glad you shared them, and I understand you not being able to look for Joseph’s name. I hope he was one of the lucky ones, too.
Laurie Stone
Thank you, Lizzi. I hope he was too.
Helene Cohen Bludman
You really captured the feeling of being so many stories up that you feel like you’re in the clouds. What an amazing restaurant, and those of us who were fortunate to dine there will never forget it. Beautiful post.
Laurie Stone
Thank you, Helene. It was an amazing experience to be up there and can’t believe it’s gone forever. Thank you for reading.
Laurie Oien
Beautifully told story and left me wondering about Joseph, as well. Fortunately, you’ll always have the lovely memory.
Laurie Stone
Thank you, Laurie. I tell myself Joseph is okay after all these years.
Bonnie K. Aldinger
I worked in the World Trade Center for a time; I had been laid off from Fiduciary Trust in June 2001 and with a very generous severance package and a then-strong economy, I decided to spend the summer as a kayak bum, teaching and guiding at Manhattan Kayak Company. However, with paddling season and severance package both winding down in the Fall, I decided to attend an outplacement workshop that was part of the package. I had the bad fortune to choose the one on September 11th. It was in the World Trade Center. Here is my story from that day:
http://frogma.blogspot.com/2006/09/september-11-2001-that-evening.html
I regret that I never made it to Windows on the World. It sounds spectacular. I hope Joseph is alive and well and stumbles across this someday.
Although it was horrifying to have been there, I am still glad and proud to have been able to then participate – even if it was in a small and stunned way – in the amazing evacuation that all the boats in the harbor carried out over the course of the day. Here is a marvelous short documentary.
Laurie Stone
Bonnie, Just read your piece and left a comment. I get chills when I see (like so many others) how your life was affected by being late just a few extra minutes that morning. Chills. Truly amazing. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to watching the documentary.
Bonnie K. Aldinger
Thanks, Laurie. I think having such a close call has made me appreciate life more. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last August and although it ended up being stage 2A and probably all gone with the mastectomy (I’m having chemo now but it’s more of a precaution), there was of course that early stage when you don’t know what the situation is – and I found myself thinking that if it turned out to be a worst-case sort of thing, “Well, I could so easily have gone on September 11th, so everything after that is gravy”. And there’s been some excellent gravy since then – I don’t live extravagantly, but I have gotten in some marvelous adventures!
Laurie Stone
Bonnie, I guess that’s the only good thing about close calls of any kind. They make us appreciate life more. By the way, I watched the documentary and it was riveting. Had tears in my eyes. So many small (and big) acts of bravery that day.
Diane
Just read your account, Bonnie. It left me shaking. So near. We need to be reminded. We need to remember those lessons learned! Thank you for sharing it!
Laurie Stone
Diane, Yes, Bonnie’s story is amazing.
Alana
Ariel Jacobs, an attendee at a conference being held at Windows of the World on September 11, 2001, went to my high school (not in my class). He perished on 9/11 along with everyone else above the 92nd floor, as all the escape routes had been cut off. I was in the building a number of times in 1973 (before it was totally finished) I had a summer job near City Hall and used to do my banking in the WTC.
Laurie Stone
Alana, Its mind-boggling the lives that intersected that day, and all the stories. Thank you for reading.
Susan Bonifant
My husband and I wined and dined there so many times when we were dating. On the way out one night, I grabbed a book of keepsake matches. I still have them, and they bring back such mixed feelings about that place. So very sad, and yes, I agree. Let Joseph be where he is.
Laurie Stone
Thank you for reading Susan. We never know the little things we pick up that will become dear keepsakes. It gives chills.
Laurie Stone
Susan, I feel the same. Thanks for reading.
Susan Mayer
Nice piece Laurie! I hope that Joseph wasn't there that day!!! I still can't think about that day without a shudder.
Laurie Stone
Lea, I wish I knew. I pray he was one of the lucky ones.
pia
The NY Times had a feature “Portraits in Grief” that discussed every single victim in depth. It was the most beautiful and most heartbreaking series I have ever read. Made me start my morning by crying and then I would pass fire stations that had lost many. Hard time to live in NY. I don’t think I will ever completely recover. Not sure I would want to.
Anyway you can see if he survived through the series.
Laurie Stone
Pia, I’ve thought of checking, but I want to believe he survived. Its too sad to think he didn’t.
Lea
A lovely, moving piece Laurie. As I read I wondered if you knew what became of Joseph – someone who played a role in such a special moment in your life. You do a wonderful job of bringing us in to the evening with you…
Laurie Stone
Thank you, Jeff. After 13 years I still can't believe those towers are gone. I remember the hum of those high speed elevators that went up, up, up. It was an amazing place.
Jeffrey Reilly
Reading this Laurie, I have amazing memories too. Memories of when one of my classmates from KU came to visit from Kansas. We took him up the high speed elevators to a vista that can never be repeated. Never repeated in it's last incarnation anyway. I remember the tapestries hanging in the lobby below and the awestruck gazes on the faces of those who didn't call this place home. Thank you for helping us all to remember the wonderment of the WTC and the amazing folks who breathed life into the towers every day. Thank you also for refocusing me on what was my last memory.