A Look Back at Ten Years Ago

The last time I went up one of the World Trade Centers was to visit my friend, Shiala, on 8/11/00 who worked for Morgan Stanley at the time.  She was one of the fortunate few running late to work that day but was unfortunate to witness the devastation first-hand.

Here's a look back, with a small fraction of the photos I took
that week accompanied with some brief thoughts -
I actually wrote my thoughts in a journal, but I do not have it with me at this time:
(photos are scanned negatives)

Tuesday 9/11/01: The Day Of

I was one of the few who did not get to witness the event unravel as it happened.  Having just moved to Boston, I came back down to attend the Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 reunion at Madison Square Garden the night before.  I had stayed up all night posting photos on my first website, going to bed nearly around 6am.  Even with the barrage of phone calls I heard that morning, which all eventually went to voicemail, I ignored them and didn't get up, being so tired.  It wasn't until around some time after the second tower fell that I finally decided to get up and see what all the hubbub was.  Needless to say, I was stunned, hearing all the voicemails and turning the tv on...but I was not paralyzed as I rushed to get as far south as I could to see it with my own eyes.

I couldn't travel much further south as streets were barricaded.  The George Washington Bridge was closed and an eerie sight without the traffic of cars.

The television was on almost 24/7 as my family and I sat catatonic the next couple days.

The Days That Followed

My brother and I ventured into the city that Thursday or Friday - I can't remember for sure - but we wanted to get out, we needed to get out...

Lower Manhattan was still covered in a cloud of dust and debris

The enormity of the destruction is barely visible behind the lingering smoke.

Storefronts displayed their condolences

Support

On the West Side Highway, volunteers were in full effect supporting those working endlessly to find survivors and help clean up what was now called "Ground Zero".  We offered our help and lended both nutritional and moral support to the numerous volunteer workers who walked to and from the site.  Many of these same workers are those that are currently rebuilding the World Trade Center.

Sorting through donations

Debris was carried away in large dump trucks.

Murals of Hope

The following day, I walked around the city and was truly overwhelmed by the number of postings of loved ones called "Murals of Hope".  It was so hard not to get choked up - your heart just ached.

Union Square Becomes a Shrine

I made my way to Union Square which had turned into
a place of hope, prayer and remembrance.

I am # 308

After walking around for sometime, trying to comprehend the events that occurred, I sat down to listen to artists, musicians, poets and those who had something to say.  When one of the performers started to sing "America the Beautiful," I could not help but break down into tears, not just the rolling tears, but full-on sobbing.  Even to this day, when I hear that song, I will always remember how it brought me to tears and why.

Red White and Blue

Self-portrait with my brother (left) and our friend David

my bedroom window at my parents' house

Ditto that, Brooke.


With the new rising World Trade Center changing the skyline and the memorial complete, I hope the families and friends of those lost loved ones can finally start
to heal and find some peace.

"Honoring the past, building the future..."