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| 1 of 2 pools |
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| 30-foot waterfalls |
On Saturday, I finally went to the 9/11 Memorial. One of my best friends from high school came into town, and the only thing she specifically wanted to do was see it. I'm so glad Kathryn insisted on it; otherwise, who knows when Spencer and I would have gone?
As Kathryn and I walked from the Brooklyn Bridge to the memorial, we reminisced about that day. About September 11, 2001.
Where were you when you heard about the attacks?
I was in 8th grade, and I was at my locker between 2nd and 3rd periods. A friend came up and told me someone had crashed a plane into the World Trade Towers, speculating it was the Chinese (haha, politics from a 13-year-old).
Honestly, I hadn't heard of the WTC and thought it was in London or something. So while I was very upset and distraught by the news, nothing can compare to the shock I felt when I learned the attacks happened in New York City.
This sort of thing didn't happen in America!! How could this happen??
The misguided comfort I previously felt that bad things only happened "elsewhere" was shattered.
Seeing the 9/11 Memorial was a beautiful, reverent and even spiritual event. Seeing the names of those who died, the size of the towers, the pictures of the aftermath - all of it was so moving.
Luckily, being the cry-baby I am, I only got teary once. As you walk through security to get into the memorial, you see picture after picture of memorials, candles, flags, flowers, etc., from around the world that people did for America. People waving American flags in France, others praying for us in Egypt. For some reason, that show of community, love and humanity just did me in.
On a lighter note, having a friend, especially an Alabama friend, in town was fantastic! Other than a brief 2 hours in 2008, I hadn't seen Kathryn for almost 6 years! (Thus is the tragedy of having parents move in college.) We talked all weekend and walked all over the city, as I tried to show her the highlights in 1.5 days. I miss Kathryn already and wish she would come back. And to all my other long-distance friends, come to NY! You have a very comfy futon to sleep on!
Nothing makes me feel old like finding out that you were in middle school on 9/11. I may or may not have been well into college. I'm seriously ancient.
ReplyDelete:)
That's so neat to see that. The last time I was in NYC, there was still lots of stuff set up in the church across the street...I think that was in 2006. I can remember that day like it was yesterday. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete-Kristen
The Mrs. and The Momma
Last time I was in NYC (3 years ago) I went to Ground Zero and it was such a moving experience, even though the memorial was far from being complete. I cannot wait to go see it now.
ReplyDeletexox
Beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThe 9/11 Memorial was one of my favorite things I experienced on my trip to NYC earlier this year! So amazing!
ReplyDeleteModern Modest Beauty