Remembering 9/11/01
Looking at New York
I went to the the World Trade Center in the fall of 1989. Telescopes on the observation deck were powerful enough to see into the smallest corner of the city below.
View toward the Empire State Bldg. from the WTC.
Skyscrapers appeared flattened, as though seeing them from a plane.
View from the World Trade Center
At the time, I thought I was being brave making the long trip up in several elevators, standing in the whipping wind by the rail, and looking down so far that New York looked like a toy city. There was no telescope powerful enough that day to bring focus on what would happen in twelve years, on September 11, 2001. On that day the true meaning of bravery, and many other things both good and bad, would be revealed. My heart aches to hear the stories and see the people who lost their family and friends in that horrendous attack.
Standing by the rail of WTC observation deck.
We, as individuals, and as a country, have experienced many changes in the last decade as a direct result of the events of that day. I don’t know if we’ve learned to face fear, or if we’ve taken it in as part of the fabric of our being. We still don’t have a telescope that will open up the dark corners of the unknown. I do know that you feel better prepared for whatever comes if you tell the people you care about that you love them. Better do it the first thing each and every morning.
