Remembering

I've shared this photo before but it's one of my faves. I took it a week after the 9/11 attacks at Union Square Park in NYC- which became a gigantic memorial. The words were scribbled on a concrete divider:

Listening to Rudy Giuliani on the radio this morning, recount his 'where he was when the first plane hit' story had an unexpected effect on me. For years the memories from that day have gotten easier to deal with  but today, hearing his details, so much of that day came flooding back again. I don't usually talk about that day but feeling the need to share a few of my own details today.

The day was sunny and perfect and it was Tuesday, just like today. Not a cloud in the sky or drop of humidity. A perfect early fall day.

There was a huge thunder storm the night before - I was out in the city and watched awnings get blown off a building across the street from a restaurant where I was with friends.We joked that 'all hell had broken loose in the city.'

We all thought it was a small plane at first. And we all thought it was an accident. But we talked about how there was such a huge explosion for a small plane. I was discussing the 'accident' on the phone with my mom when the second plane approached and hit. My mother was watching the news as that happened and recounting what she was seeing in horror. When the second plane hit, the explosion shook my office building. 'Come home right now' was the next thing she said.

Once the second plane hit, we thought 'what's next?' My boss put on on lock down in our office. No one was allowed to leave for several hours. I couldn't leave anyway. All the trains & mass transit were stopped and I couldn't get back to NJ. I was afraid to walk over the bridge to Brooklyn.

When I finally did get home, (around 9 p.m.) I stepped off the commuter train in my town and was greeted by the fire department hazmat team. They had set up a kiddie pool & hose to decontaminate all the people who came home with 'the dust' on them. So many people on the train were covered with it. Men, who I'd see every day in their business suits, looking professional, standing in a blow up kiddie pool getting getting hosed off is a sight I will not forget.

Here are a few more of the Union Square Park photos:

Missing people. I'm not sure who splattered the red paint but it's really chilling:

These number birthday candles have never looked the same to me since this:

I wonder where this piece of paper is now:

I remember fighter jets flying over right after I snapped this one: 

I certainly will never forget; the people who were lost and the brave people who tried to save them.

Thanks for letting me ramble on. I will be back later today with my Big Picture Classes winner :)