We took this picture on our honeymoon. Our first look at this skyline together as a married couple. It was February 18th, 2001. It is different when you standing at the bottom of the buildings. As newlyweds, my husband and I stood at a 4 way crossing in the middle of sky scrappers in NYC looking for the world trade center. We couldn't see a definable entrance and we weren't sure exactly where to go. A man came up to us, he could obviously tell we were not from NY or even any major city for that matter, and he could tell that we were somewhat lost. He asked us what we were trying to find. We told him we were looking for the world trade center (not knowing at all what it looked like) and he laughed in his very thick New York accent and said, "Are ya kiddin' me??? Yah standin' right in fronuh it! Look up!!" How embarrassing. We laughed with him! We walked into one building, saw it's enormity, and said, "We'll have to come back and visit here next time, there's no way we have time to see this place today..." There were places to shop in portions of the building, but we couldn't even figure out the elevator system. So, we went to Ellis Island and, while taking photos of the immigrant wall where my great great grandfather's name is listed, we snapped a picture of the buildings in the distance, planning to go see them again on our next visit to NYC. They weren't nearly as hard to find from this perspective. 7 months later they came crashing down with many precious souls inside of them. The length to which evil and hatred will go knows no bounds. What a sad day that was, as well as the weeks and months to follow. God bless those families that were touched by such ugliness. I think, in different ways, we all were. We won't get a second chance to visit that place as it was. It is a memorial now. In the years after the attack on the World Trade Center, videos and phone footage and photos and stories continue to pour out of those who survived. One thing is predominately sure. When people were faced with their very last moments in their life, their thoughts went to the people they loved and thoughts of how much they loved them. Person after person called and left messages with a loved one, "I love you." What was most important? Telling people they loved them! Missing an opportunity to shop in a building is nothing. Missing an opportunity to tell someone how much you love them is an indescribable loss. Never take for granted anything. People are a gift promised to us, but for only a moment. Seize the day! Leave people with love; make up quickly, forgive immediately. Let things roll off your back more.
You never know whether you will see them again.