Yesterday
Each 9/11 is different for us. This year was hard all around. For some reason, this one hit Bree and I harder than last year did. For a week leading up to it we both had hard emotional days. I found myself having WTC nightmares again and even had a couple of anxiety attacks. Bree went off with her boyfriend this year and saw a comedy show in the evening. It was the perfect way to honor the silly man that was her father.
Harry and I headed down to the site yesterday morning and attended the official memorial service. The space is large and sprawling so it's hard to say how many people attended but it felt like less than last year. We also visited the museum yesterday, my second time and Harry's first. Last year I did it alone but it was better having someone with me. Still awful, but better. In one of the cases we saw eyeglass frames that we are both fairly sure were Liam's. It was unnerving. I don't think I will ever go back, it's just too hard to see the exhibits there.
After the museum, we decided to have lunch and we chose to go to SouthWest NY. The reason we went there was that after the first memorial in 2002, we wandered over there after the service and discovered that they were serving free lunch for the families. So patronizing them yesterday seemed like the right thing to do. From there we wandered over to Battery Park because I wanted to see the Sphere, which originally stood in the Plaza between the North and South towers. We didn't find it because it had been moved to a new location in the park, but we did take the opportunity to ride the Seaglass carousel. Carousels were one of Liam's favorite things so it just seemed appropriate. It was quite an experience with all the seats made to look like fish and the entire ride made me feel like we were under water. It was beautiful.
I still had energy after that so we decided to ride the Staten Island Ferry. You see, years ago when I still had my own class I would take them on a ferry ride. It was free and it was fun and it took an entire day. When we approaching the city from Staten Island, I would call Liam on my cell phone and he would come from work and meet us at Battery Park for lunch. After 9/11 it was almost impossible for me to ride the ferry without bursting into tears and/or unconsciously taking out my cell phone. But we had a lovely ride on the ferry yesterday and I did okay coming back.
On the way back to Manhattan, Harry noticed a facebook post from Michael Dionne, formerly of Rose's Turn, about his 9/11 experience and an invitation to all on his list to join him at the Duplex to share their stories. So went went for a while and had a couple of drinks and toasted Liam. Howard met us and then we went to the Slaughtered Lamb and had dinner. From there we headed home.
It was a very long day with a few tearful moments, not enough sleep and lots of memories. But this year we didn't just weather the day, we took it by the horns. I'm glad I could do all those things yesterday and glad I had Harry there as my support system. Each year is different but this year, it felt like we did all the things that needed doing. Time to heal for yet another year, until the anniversary rolls around again and rips the scab off once more. And seeing that it's one of those multiple of 5 years, it will probably be a media circus.
Harry and I headed down to the site yesterday morning and attended the official memorial service. The space is large and sprawling so it's hard to say how many people attended but it felt like less than last year. We also visited the museum yesterday, my second time and Harry's first. Last year I did it alone but it was better having someone with me. Still awful, but better. In one of the cases we saw eyeglass frames that we are both fairly sure were Liam's. It was unnerving. I don't think I will ever go back, it's just too hard to see the exhibits there.
After the museum, we decided to have lunch and we chose to go to SouthWest NY. The reason we went there was that after the first memorial in 2002, we wandered over there after the service and discovered that they were serving free lunch for the families. So patronizing them yesterday seemed like the right thing to do. From there we wandered over to Battery Park because I wanted to see the Sphere, which originally stood in the Plaza between the North and South towers. We didn't find it because it had been moved to a new location in the park, but we did take the opportunity to ride the Seaglass carousel. Carousels were one of Liam's favorite things so it just seemed appropriate. It was quite an experience with all the seats made to look like fish and the entire ride made me feel like we were under water. It was beautiful.
I still had energy after that so we decided to ride the Staten Island Ferry. You see, years ago when I still had my own class I would take them on a ferry ride. It was free and it was fun and it took an entire day. When we approaching the city from Staten Island, I would call Liam on my cell phone and he would come from work and meet us at Battery Park for lunch. After 9/11 it was almost impossible for me to ride the ferry without bursting into tears and/or unconsciously taking out my cell phone. But we had a lovely ride on the ferry yesterday and I did okay coming back.
On the way back to Manhattan, Harry noticed a facebook post from Michael Dionne, formerly of Rose's Turn, about his 9/11 experience and an invitation to all on his list to join him at the Duplex to share their stories. So went went for a while and had a couple of drinks and toasted Liam. Howard met us and then we went to the Slaughtered Lamb and had dinner. From there we headed home.
It was a very long day with a few tearful moments, not enough sleep and lots of memories. But this year we didn't just weather the day, we took it by the horns. I'm glad I could do all those things yesterday and glad I had Harry there as my support system. Each year is different but this year, it felt like we did all the things that needed doing. Time to heal for yet another year, until the anniversary rolls around again and rips the scab off once more. And seeing that it's one of those multiple of 5 years, it will probably be a media circus.