The speaker shares their personal experience of the 9/11 attacks in New York City. They had just moved to the city in June 2001 and were staying in a friend's apartment in the financial district, just a half block from the Twin Towers. On the morning of September 11th, they heard a loud noise and saw paper falling from the sky. As they watched, the building caught fire, and they grabbed their camera to record the scene. They describe the chaos, destruction, and fear they felt as they witnessed the towers fall and saw people injured and dead. The speaker also shares their experience of biking to their brother's apartment, going to a hospital to help, and seeing the devastation firsthand. They show footage from that day, including firefighters rushing into the burning buildings and people waiting outside. The speaker reflects on how the experience has haunted them and how they feel lucky to have been there to witness it, despite the trauma. They transition to a more lighthearted tone, talking about getting fitted for clothes at Conde Nast's offices in the New World Trade Center building and attending a Vogue magazine pajama party before the Met Gala.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker moved to New York City on June 4, 2001.
2. The speaker had a three-month sublet in NYC.
3. After the sublet, the speaker moved into a friend's couch in the financial district.
4. The friend's apartment was a half block from the Twin Towers.
5. The speaker was in the friend's apartment on the morning of September 11, 2001.
6. The speaker heard a crushing noise and saw paper falling from the window.
7. The speaker grabbed a video camera and ran out the door to record what was happening.
8. The speaker saw airplane parts scattered on the street.
9. The speaker saw a man covering bodies with sheets.
10. The speaker was terrified and recorded the scene with a camera.
11. The speaker biked to a brother's apartment and then to a hospital to help.
12. The speaker saw one of the Twin Towers fall.
13. The speaker was scared and didn't know what would happen the next day.
14. The speaker had to show ID to go south of 14th Street.
15. The speaker has footage of the event.
16. The speaker was at the World Trade Center on the day of the attack.
17. The speaker was compelled to share the story because of a fitting at Conde Nast, which is located in the new World Trade Center building.
18. The speaker is being fitted for a suit for the Met Gala.
19. The speaker is attending a Vogue magazine pajama party the night before the Met Gala.
20. The speaker's mom is in town and their sister organized a lunch.