9/11/08

Today was one of those days that made me want my camera so badly I almost decided to shell out the $150 it would cost to fix it.

Almost.

I woke up early to get a good spot outside the metal barricade protecting the September 11th Commemoration Ceremony downtown. After being moved several times by cops while getting serenaded by a Mennonite choir, the event finally began. I could see it pretty well from my spot, but I was only able to make it halfway through the letter "B" in the reading of the victims before I started to get restless. I wandered over to Trinity Church to sit in quiet for a moment before making my way to a more secluded vantage point where family members were entering the ceremony. I wanted to stay longer but work was calling me. Fortunately Hillary Clinton walked by before my time was up.

After work I made it back downtown just in time to sign one of the steel beams that will be used for the foundation of the new WTC memorial building. It will be a time capsule of sorts. I also got to write a note to be catalogued for access once the memorial opens.

From there I made it to the Staten Island Ferry to see Tribute in Light from the harbor. (This year could be the last for the lights.) Back in Manhattan I couldn't resist finding the source of the giant beams. It turns out they are projected from the rooftop of a parking garage south of the actual WTC site. Who knew? Once back in Harlem, I got on my rooftop to see how well I could see the tribute from afar. It felt much closer than I thought it would.

Today I was able to better process the events of 9/11. I was also able to better imagine what life would be like having the towers back as landmarks. They may be seven years gone now, but for me they've never felt closer.