Brooks' E-mail from NYC...

I was going to school today. In an area with tall buildings about 1.5 miles from the WTC. The first plane went right over my head. I looked up and sort of cringed because it was so loud. Big silver plane. I couldn't follow it with my eyes because of the buildings and went inside. I knew it was too low and the thought went through my head that I should check it out, but I needed to get to class. I looked up at a clock and it said 8:49, but I think that was a little fast. A few minutes later someone said they saw the plane go into the building. I went out and ran to a corner where I could clearly see both buildings. Saw the second building explode, but didn't know it was a plane, which came from the south and I was watching from the north. Later, I saw the first WTC building collapse and actually went into my class, which had like 50 people in an OPTIONAL stats class (that's dedication) and just had to say, "I'm really sorry, but I think people should know that one of the buildings collapsed and the Pentagon is on fire." That was after about an hour of the class. Streets are pretty full and pretty calm. Don't expect any issues. Can't get home to Westchester tonight because all the subways and metro trains are cancelled. Most of my b-school classmates know someone who works at the WTC (and many of them worked there). Very scary.

Brooks