NYC: 9/11 Memorial… Never Forget

“After the 9/11 apocalypse happened in New York City, people, particularly New Yorkers, who breathed in the ash, or saw the results of that, have a tendency to keep seeing echoes and having flashbacks to it.” – Stephen King

Reflection

Where were you on September 11th? What daggers shot through your body when you saw the Twin Towers burst into flames? Shock? Hurt? Anger? Vulnerability? Terror? Sadness? These emotions and more sat heavy in my stomach, heart, and soul.

I will never forget the horrors of that day. I had been staying with my dad in San Diego, while I was looking for a job in Los Angeles. Early morning, he knocked on my bedroom door, “Gina, come quick. You have to see this.” As I am not a morning person, I squinted my eyes with annoyance. I had no idea my world would be forever changed.

My aggravation and foggy, morning brain quickly faded as I stared at the television in disbelief. I tried to wrap my head around what just happened. ‘Why? No; this can’t be true. What? Are my friends in New York alive? How can this happen, especially in New York? Are we safe? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!’

Fuzzy brain

I went to work in a daze. My mind kept replaying the horrific images of the plane, the towers, the flames. When I arrived, everyone was glued to the TV. No one was in the mood to work, but no one wanted to leave. I tried to reach my friends in New York. Friends I no longer knew flashed through my mind. I could not find anyone for quite some time, but I kept calling.

Concerned friends

My phone blew up. My friends wanted to know if I was safe. They called to confirm I was not on one of those unfortunate planes. I had flown from Boston to California, the day before. The thought had not even occurred to me, but I realized how lucky I was. I had explored flights on both days, into both cities. Thank God I chose a flight into San Diego on the 10th instead of into LA on 9/11.

Disbelief

The day was surreal. How could this happen to us? Why did so many innocent people have to die? How could we be attacked like this in the United States? I hate terrorists; they are evil. The Pentagon was attacked? What next? Make it go away, and fast.

I remember how heavy my heart felt, filled with sadness and anger. Vulnerability engulfed my being. I could not comprehend how something so tragic could happen to a city I loved and the people who lived there. My body shook with remorse for the folks who were left behind. I was thankful everyone I knew was alive. Would life ever go back to normal? How could so much change in 24 hours? This day would forever haunt me.

I remember how people came together and strangers helped each other, days following the attacks. A sense of pride trickled through my body. I was in awe by how giving everyone became, and I wanted this altruism to last forever.

Ground Zero

Fast forward to a little more than a decade later, when I found myself in New York City. I have been to the Manhattan many times, and I have seen all of the sites. The past few times, I have been aching to see Ground Zero. This was my time to fulfill the desire that burned deep within.

After lunch at Eataly and my sketchy subway experience, I visited the 9/11 memorial and museum. Lucky for me, I had pre-purchased a ticket for the museum. Otherwise, I would have never stepped foot inside the building. Even though I was a little late, they shuffled me inside. I asked how long one needed to see the memorial, and I was told three hours. Due to my subway fiasco, my time had been cut down to a little over an hour.

Travel Tip: Buy your tickets online before you go. This will minimize your time in line and guarantee you entry into the memorial museum. 

Ghosts of the past

As I entered the memorial museum, I was surrounded by voices and images of people following the days of the attacks. I listened to their stories and watched the clips. A lump formed in my throat, and I felt an emptiness in the pit of my stomach. Tears threatened to slide down my cheeks. I bit my lip to hold them back. Where was this emotion coming from?

“Survivor Stairs”

I meandered through the memorial museum, over to the “Survivor Stairs.” These stairs had saved so many lives, but not enough. As I walked down the staircase next to them, I saw how they started to fall apart. I wondered how I would feel running down them, in hopes of survival. I stopped breathing. Now, I was really fighting back the tears.

“Go down this set of stairs and then just run, run as fast as you can.” David Brink, Lieutenant, New York Police Department

Heartache

I continued through the memorial museum in a daze, as I wandered through it several times. Due to the long line and my limited time, I had to skip a video. Otherwise, I saw everything.

I left the memorial in a funk. My somber attitude continued into the evening. Exploring the memorial brought me back to the void I felt so many years ago. The demons of our past were unleashed.

Materialism

The gift shop was a weird experience. To support the memorial, I looked around, searching for something to remember the most horrible day of my life. But nothing felt right; nothing was appropriate.

A surreal experience

The memorial is a powerful place that gives life to the horrific events of our past. I was reminded of how we were once vulnerable to evil. I learned about the innocent people, who lost their lives for no reason. Their stories are shared; their faces are remembered.

Although I left with a heavy heart, I am glad I experienced the memorial. I will never ever forget.

Share your 9/11 stories in the comments section below.

More NYC blogs from this trip:

• NYC: Let the Adventure Begin
• NYC: Inside Park at St. Bart’s
• NYC: Asiate, a Restaurant with a Spectacular View
• NYC: Fun Times at Whiskey Park
• NYC: Eataly, an Italian Dream
• NYC: The Sketchy Subway
• NY: Le Jardin Du Roi

More 9/11 blogs:

• Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run

Pictures:

• View my New York City pictures.
• View more travel pictures.

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