Remembrance

This day forever changed us.

I remember exactly where I was 10 years ago on 9/11. I had walked into my office about 8:50 am and a few people were gathered around a television in the conference room. The first plane had hit the north tower a few minutes earlier. I stood there and watched in horror for the next hour and a half as the second plane hit the south tower and as both buildings eventually crumbled. I left work a few moments later and luckily J & I worked only a few blocks apart at the time and we found each other on the street.

We ended up walking 3 miles home to our apartment. It was the longest, scariest walk I ever took. There were fighter jets overhead and we had no idea if another plane was going to hit. We walked by the Empire State building in sheer terror.

Once we got back to our apartment which once had a gorgeous view of the towers all we saw was the billowing black smoke that remained. We stayed in the city that night, there was no way out, as all public transportation and the bridges and tunnels were closed. The smoke and scent of death began to creep into our apartment and the next morning we left the city to stay at Js parents house.

We returned from the city many days later to an apartment still filled with that stench. The site burned for months. I can still remember that smell to this day.

It's a time I will never ever forget. All the innocent and brave men & women that were lost. It still seems unreal.

I now have a view of the beautiful Freedom Tower that stands at the site where the Towers once stood. It's a symbol of hope, freedom and strength and I feel incredibly fortunate to get to look at that every morning when I wake up.

We will never forget.