We visited the 9/11 Memorial on a rainy Friday evening. After going through security that makes the airports look like a breeze (not complaining!) and walking around a maze to get inside the actual site, we were there.

My first time on the grounds since the towers stood tall.

I broke down and cried like I was John Boehner. And I was the only one because the tourists were too busy taking pictures of their friggin kids smiling in front on the fountains.

We paid our respects to the two people we knew who left us that day. My husband’s firefighter buddy and a wedding photography client of mine. I saw on the computer search that they used what I think was one of my images. It’s good to know they’re getting some use. He died a few days short of their first anniversary.

The fountains are beautiful and the layout is well done. It’s still a work in progress but it’s going to be a peaceful spot to sit and reflect. There were probably more security guards than visitors there, so it’s creating jobs for the city.

During construction, you need to get tickets to visit. They’re available online and they are free.

Wow. I just found out about this. From comedian Dennis Leary, no less. The first responders of 9/11 will not be able to attend the 10th anniversary memorial ceremony. WTF?

Mayor Bloomberg is saying it’s for family members only. Hello? Hasn’t he ever heard of The Brotherhood among firemen? Why should “family” only mean spouse or blood relative? These men and women worked together saving lives EVERY. DAY. and they are banned from paying tribute to their work families?

After they ran down to those towers that day?

After they watched their buddies die?

After they dug them out of the rubble?

After they got sick from the air down there?

Really?

Not that it’s going to do any good at this point, but here’s a petition to get them down there on FAMILY day. Not the day after and not some other time or place.

**Reposted from 9/11/2008**

For the entire week of September 11, 2001 I kept a photo and written diary. Some of the images were exhibited in group fund raising shows at the time and I believe a couple got published in books. I never showed the diary to anyone. I stuck the photos and journal in a drawer and haven’t looked at them since.

I’m posting these now because the reason I made the initial effort was to document history. I’m putting this out there today and then they’ll go back in my drawer.

The day the planes struck, I was in shock. I kept thinking everyone was evacuated and I remember wondering why there were no helicopters to pick up people from the roofs of the towers. At times of great sorrow or fear, the one thing that puts a shield between me and the outside world is my camera. You may think it was insensitive of me to grab my camera, but it was my protection.

If anyone recognizes themselves in these photos and doesn’t want to be out there, please contact me and I’ll take them down immediately.

September 11, 2001
September 12, 2001
September 13, 2001
September 14, 2001
Flickr

 

*Please read this post first.

As I was getting out of the shower this morning there was an announcement on the radio that a plane went into the WTC. I got dressed and turned on the TV. When the second plane hit, it was clear this was a terrorist attack. I ran up to the roof with my camera. I was obviously running on pure adrenaline since I’m scared to climb the roof ladder normally.

I got some shots and decided I needed to get closer. I wanted to be on the streets with other New Yorkers. I went to Red Hook. I was trying to find parking near the Snapple factory on the pier when a guard told me to move along. In the middle of my U-turn he screamed that the tower was coming down. I left the car running in the middle of the street and ran to the pier. As I watched and took pictures all I could think of was that my lens was too long to get the full skyline. I cursed myself for not being prepared.

There was a cop car sitting on the pier. I couldn’t believe how the two cops just sat there and watched the tower come down with no emotion.

……There was debris coming from 5th Avenue so I went towards it. The street looked like a war zone. People were wearing masks and covering their faces with their shirts. I had masks in the house but ran out without putting one on. I regretted that later.

Went to the Promenade in Brooklyn Heights….Along the way, the second tower came down. The World Trade Center was gone. I couldn’t stop to think about it.

The Promenade was crowded but not like I expected……Some people were taking pictures. Others crying. People were listening to radios. One group of guys were looking at a brochure of the Twin Towers observation deck and pointing across the river to where they once stood.

……Met up with Mia (my neighbor). We stopped for lunch and looked at some of Nostradamus’ predictions. I remembered something about a fire in the sky in the New City and 2 great rocks at war.

……That evening we went upstairs to commiserate with our tenants. S said she was relieved that her daughter was too young to understand what was going on. We watched the President who scared us even more.

The Diaries
September 12, 2001
September 13, 2001
September 14, 2001
Flickr