In Memoriam

Like many families who lived in Manhattan on September 11, 2001, after the smoke cleared, the dust settled, the odor wafted away and  the body parts were retrieved, counted and buried, my family made an emergency plan. Our plan was to rendez-vous at our house in Hunter in the GNC.  If we were separated by circumstance, on opposite sides of the Hudson, or away on business, or on a school trip when the next attack came (which we were sure it would), no questions asked - head to Hunter. We had "go bags" ready, sufficient cash in everyone's secret hiding place and keys to the house hidden under a rock near the front door.  Anyway you can, get to Hunter.

As you know by know, our son went off to college and we eventually moved to Hunter full-time to pursue my writing career and a less stressful lifestyle.  Now, its September 11 plus ten years and I am heading off the mountaintop to NYC to attend memorial services in honor of the friends, colleagues and strangers who died that day.  September 11 was nothing like Lady Irene, but in its aftermath, we did have stranded strangers come stay with us, since transportation home was impossible, there were emergency vehicles everywhere and the devastation was omni-present.

Now,  September 11 has come to Hunter.  A memorial structure has been erected in Dolan's Lake Park, made of steel girders from the World Trade Center.  I saw those girders ten years ago, burnt, twisted and splintered, and here they are again. Certainly I understand why the monument was created, and I will attend the dedication ceremony of the monument next week, but I will do so with bittersweet emotions.   It would have been nice to leave those girders at GZ.