I Want To Share What I Experienced....

[cathy1140]

Coming home from work today. I had one of those days that you wished you stayed in bed and never got up. I'm sure you know what I mean. I couldn't wait for the day to end but of course I got out later than I wanted.

Leaving Manhattan at about 6:30pm I crossed the Brooklyn Bridge trying to get on the BQE there was traffic so I decided to take the streets. I had to go thru this section of Brooklyn called Brooklyn Heights. There is an area right across the river where the WTC use to stand. Again there was traffic.I forgot that tonight they were going to light the beam of light representing the Twin Towers. Traffic just stopped. It was 6:54pm veryone got out of their cars including me and looking straight across the river these beautiful Beams of light going straight to the heavens. To me the light represent Angels going to heaven. It was a beautiful site. I forget all my troubles and I started to remember what happened 6 months ago.

I almost lost it. It just took 5 minutes and traffic started to move again. No one blared their horns we just went with the flow of traffic. As I crossed the Verazzano Bridge I remembered that day. Going to work I saw the first Tower bellowing in smoke. Now going home I saw the lights where every night I use to see the Twin Towers.

Going toward home I saw the Memorial that was set up for all the Firefighter that lost their lives that day. There was a gathering of families and firefighters lighting candles for the 6th month anniversity.

And as I drive into my driveway I got out of my car and looked up and saw the beam of lights again.

I forgot what happened today at work. It wasn't worth it. 9/11 was the worst day of my life and nothing can compare to that day.

I will always remember and we should never forget those that sacrificed their lives for....
I'm still trying to figure that out. Our Freedom


Cathy

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

thanks for sharing.

 

[LJC1861]

Cathy,

How nicely put! the lights are eerily beautiful and a fitting memorial for those who lost their lives that day.

The lights are blue and travel farther up into the sky than I thought they would. The light just gets softer and softer as it moves upward....right into heaven.

As beautiful as it is however it is a bit difficult to see ever time I turn around. It is a constant reminder in the night sky of what happened that day. Although we should never forget, it is difficult to remember. For me I thought I had dealt with September 11 better than I actually had and I found myself actually crying as I walked home from the subway. Seeing the lights brought up thoughts and feelings that I hadn't needed to think about in 6 months. Maybe NOW the healing actually starts......

Linda

 

[olbear]

And my heart goes out to those of you who live so very close to where the towers stood.
It must be painfully hard to see the area and remember everyday as you go to work. I can only imagine. It is still painfully hard to fathom this tragedy even happening in our country. But indeed it has. And yes, those on the planes did die for our freedom. They were patriots indeed.Although it may not have been their battle personaly, they were brought into it, by those who would take away those freedoms that we cherish so.

I was on a website last week and it's theme was all about "smiley faces". They asked you to submit a poem. Here is what I wrote:

"Smile America"

Smile America! You're the Land of the free!
Smile America! You're great from sea to shining sea!
Smile America! You stand proud and strong.
Smile America! You can right any wrong.
Smile America! For the lives that have been lost.
Smile America! They loved freedom no matter the cost!
Smile America! While we struggle to win this war.
Smile America! It's that freedom we're fighting for.
Smile America! And pray for our hero's brave.
Smile America! Again, it's freedom we're fighting to save!
Smile America! For the God that we love!
Smile America! And pray for his blessings from above!!

Blessings to all,
Winnie

 

[BeautyLLM]

Cathy and Linda, thank you for sharing your thoughts and emotions after seeing the Towers of Light last night. I have been so deeply affected by the events of Sept. 11, but I can't imagine how it must be for those who live so close to the site. And for those who have been directly affected, it is just unfathomable..it must be close to unbearable.

And thank you Winnie for sharing your poem. It was very moving.

When we saw the Towers of Light last night on TV, my daughter said "Mom, they go all the way up to the sky!" They go beyond the sky though. Linda, you are right...they go all the way to heaven.

Leslie

 

[Tinkerbel129]

Very beautifully written by all of the above. It makes most of us, I think, realize just how small our problems really are, at east for me it does. It brought tears to my eyes last night as I watched it on the news. Glad to be an Amrican!!

 

[Dom13]

Don't know how I missed this last night. I was watching the History Channel's recap of the events of that day. Brought back alot of feelings. It must be one tremendously moving sight in person.

 

[suzanneb]

brought tears to my eyes...yes it looks like something heavenly...angels do come to mind..I'm sure seeing it "for real" was very cathartic..thank you for sharing.

 

[shirley 38]

Hi Cathie, We are both Picies and that I why I can related to how you must have felt.
I would have totally lost it.
To this day I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the Trade Center was hit.
I have to to say it was the worse day of my life. My husband always says There are Big Things in Life and then there is nothing.
God Bless the people left behind because of this tragedy and God Bless America. As for the people who lost their lives we all know where they are. shirley38

 

[cathy1140]

I'm here reading all of the beautiful words that all of you have written with tears in my eyes. Winnie such a beautiful poem. What puts me thru this is all the wonder friends I've made on the board. I can always count on someone lifting my spirts up.

To all the New Yorks and fellow Americans. We will never forget those that gave their lives for our FREEDOM.

Thank you for making my day!!

 

[DisneyFan0304]

Hi, Cathy --

I just missed seeing the lights last night. My bus came through downtown around 6:45. Maybe tonight I'll be able to see them on the way home. If not, I'll have to go somewhere over the weekend to see them.

I watched the show on Sunday night about 9/11 and it brought it all right back. How clearly I remember sitting here at work that day watching the smoke. You just couldn't take your eyes off it. And how close we came to losing 3 family members. Thank God they all made it out of the area safely.

Well, now everyone walking by my desk is looking at me like I'm crazy because I'm sitting here crying. It's been like that since Sunday night. I thought I had gotten past this feeling, but I guess not.

Take care everyone, and be thankful every day for even the littlest things. You never know what's going to happen in the next minute.

 

[DisneyFan0304]

Hi, Cathy --

I just missed seeing the lights last night. My bus came through downtown around 6:45. Maybe tonight I'll be able to see them on the way home. If not, I'll have to go somewhere over the weekend to see them.

I watched the show on Sunday night about 9/11 and it brought it all right back. How clearly I remember sitting here at work that day watching the smoke. You just couldn't take your eyes off it. And how close we came to losing 3 family members. Thank God they all made it out of the area safely.

Well, now everyone walking by my desk is looking at me like I'm crazy because I'm sitting here crying. It's been like that since Sunday night. I thought I had gotten past this feeling, but I guess not.

Take care everyone, and be thankful every day for even the littlest things. You never know what's going to happen in the next minute.

Cathy -- Talk to you soon.

 

[sgtslovak]

Cathy,how beautifully put. I saw the ceremony on TV & it brought tears to my eyes. I then went out on my front porch & even though a cloudy evening, I could see the beam stretching to the stars. I'm getting choked up again writing this. We must never forget. God Bless America.
Chris

 

[NHMickey]

Thank you for sharing that.

 

[karinmac]

As someone who lived 37 yrs in NYC (Manhattan & Staten Island), I was very moved by your words. It must have been some sight in person. I now live 3,000 miles away and I still feel emotional about the events of 9/11. We lost friends who were firefighters and my husband lost his 1st cousin's daughter. She was 41 yrs old, the daughter,granddaughter and sister to NY Police Officers. She left a daughter who turned 7 on February 4th.

I hope if I go to NY in the summer to see my parents to visit the site and pay my respects.

God Bless America.

 

[cathy1140]

Karin

I'm sorry to hear of your lost. I hope when you come to New York we can meet. It would be so nice to meet you one Staten Islander to another.

My husband want to try to get a picture taken of the lights. They are only going to be lite for 35 days. If we get a nice enough picture I will post it on the board.

Cathy

 

[Mainepinpal]

Cathy,
Thanks for posting this and sharing with all of the extended, pin family out here. We have all been affected by 9/11, but none so much as those of you within sight, sound, and smell of ground zero.
I hope to get to NYC in June, and, as we have discussed, I hope to be able to meet you, then, too.
Penny

 

[JudithM]

Cathy, thank you for sharing your thoughts & observations. I am sitting here with chills up & down my spine. We watched the show Sunday night - very moving.

Thank you, too, for all your footwork to share the TDS FDNY & NYPD pins with many of us.

 

[dispinfanzz]

Cathy thanks for shareing your story with us. I saw a picture of the beams on the TV. they are beautiful. God Bless America.

In God we trust,
Susan

 

[GotAnyPins]

For putting into words what we all feel...I really think that after that day, we all became My'rs
and even though we can't be there to feel and see the changes on a daily basis, be still feel it in our hearts
Every story has touched us, and being so far away, sometimes there is nothing you can do for your fellow Americans, but
prayer....and we have lots of that to give..

Donna