It’s the sixth anniversary of the WTC collapse, I hate the word anniversary for that day, and it seems too happy a word. I am first and foremost a New Yorker, it’s something I always will be, I still say ‘cawfee’ and no matter how hard I try still count one, two, tree.
I do not think I have anything profound or humorous to say on this day, I never do. Nor I want to make a political statement, in favor of my point of view; too many Americans have used this tragedy for their own ends. Aside from the anger that my country was invaded, there was another feeling that was the equivalent to that of having your house looted of everything right down to your family photos.

As a NYC resident, I spent the first 20 years of my life seeing this thing, that I have taken for granted, looked at in awe, or stared at the rest of the city from the top of with my girl on a very regular basis. It was always there, now it’s not, I will not be able to look at the world from it’s peak with my son, as my Grandpa did with me. Nor even drive over the bridge on my way to visit, and take comfort in its gleam that was always a beacon pointing me home.

I remember immense worry that my Dad, my Uncle and a family friend were either dead or severely hurt, as they work as a Cop, Paramedic, and Fireman, in NYC respectively. I had childhood friend whom also worked in the tower and other people that I am still close with that I knew might be in the area. I shed, like most, many a tear that day.
I also felt great joy and hope, when the people I love and care for were finally able to tell me that they were OK, I think that day brought me close to friends that I did not talk to in a long time. (Nikki and Cindy) I wrote e-mail to my friends and family that was greatly misunderstood. I had understood my own mortality that day, I wanted to say, that some people never get the chance to tell the ones they care about how they feel. (My Dad and I did not talk for 8 years or so) I wanted to simply say, ‘I love you’, before life in its peculiar way took away that chance to do so.
I hope to do the same thing now, just reach out and tell my virtual friends I care and I am thinking of them. There have been many whom have reached out to me, and I thank you. I look forward to hopefully making you smile with my own loopy perspective for a long time.
This is my tradition on this day, simply reaching out to embrace others. Maybe anniversary is not such a bad word after all.

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