A Sad Day For New York

The fact that it's October 11th played no small part in the sudden fear gripping the hearts of many New Yorkers today as the first word got out about a plane striking a high rise building on the upper east side. "Not again," we gasped, almost in unison. It was sometime between 2:30 and 3:00 when one of the girls in my office got the call from her husband, an EMT in the area. "It can't be," was my first reaction. "There has to be some mistake." Much the same reaction, now that I think about it, as I had on the morning of September 11, 2001 when the first tower was hit.

We scrambled to get more information, turning on the television only to be frustrated by our inability to get any channel on the dish network other than the one explaining their service. Running back upstairs I went to the computer looking for a report, anything that would get rid of the feeling of dread, contemplating a cruel replay of 9/11. As the decibel level of her voice increased, my co worker's terror washed over us like a wave.

The facts of the case turned out to be less sinister but a tragedy indeed, albeit one of a personal nature. It was determined that a Cirrus SR 20 single engine plane owned and piloted by Yankee pitcher Cory Lidle slammed into the north side of the Belaire apartment house at 524 E. 72nd Street. Miraculously nobody in the building or on the ground below where the wreckage came to rest was killed.

Left in the wake of this tragedy, are all those who loved Cory Lidle, his wife and son, his family, team mates and all his adoring fans. To all of them I say my prayers are with you.

Author: Geri Sonkin