Last summer I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to New York with three good friends -- who after that weekend are now great friends.
We saw so many cool things. This city is so alive and overwhelming, especially for three wives and mothers who are used to 10 p.m bedtimes.
But we learned to push through the crowds, manage the subway station and haggle with street vendors.
On one of our last days, we ate lunch at a delicetessan in the Wall Street district, walked a few blocks and found ourselves outside a chainlink fence full of names.
As we leaned into the fence, taking in the massive hole of earth and rebar, that noisy alive city suddenly seemed very still. There was a quietness there that doesn't exist many places. A stillness reserved for the lives that were lost needlessly. A quiet moment for homes that were ripped apart by hatred. A minute to hold your breath and promise not to forget.
We leaned against that fence because when faced with that overhelming loss, it's hard to stand. But that is one thing that city does well, it stands up. It keeps going. And as we walked away, each of looking back one more time -- it was New York that is alive and well that we saw in front of us.
1 comment:
It is sad that such bad things happen, to make people come together. Today, at work, we had a flag ceremony to remember the lost lives. The most touching moment was when they brought up a little girl, one of our students!, to the front of the gym and announced to everyone that her father was one the people lost in the 9/11 attack. I guess I didn't realize at the time how close to home things like this could be. I learned a valuable lesson by watching that little girl this morning. She stood there so quietly, but so proud and honored her father and the others just as any soldier does when representing his/her country. I too, still today, am touched by that horrible day that fell upon our country. God Bless America!
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