On Sept. 11, 2013, I ventured into NYC to see how developed and designed lower-Manhattan is becoming and overcoming. My favorite way to travel in is via train, for lots of reasons. I find train rides relaxing and you get there quicker than bus and car. Not to mention, its affordable, even during rush-hour times. After a fairly relaxing train trip, I took the Path to Ground Zero. I remember the first time I took the train when they got it up and running again. At first, I thought it was weird to see the ruined remains of not really an argument about it being one of the worst tragedies to ever happen on American soil next to every single school shooting that happens around the country/world (in certain places), and to the every day unfortunate passing of a loved one/close friend. However, the only way to get over a fear of something is go to the source and overcome it face-to-face.
Before the buildings collapsed, there used to be a giant shopping mall in the underground. The last time my family and I ventured into the city together was to help motivate my brother who at one time wanted to work on Wall Street, while also considering Law School. So we went to the Stock Exchange. At this time, we were only taking extreme local trips, since my late mom's energy level was not so high due to chemo/radiation treatments with both Ovarian and Brain Cancer. Since she got to hop in a wheel-chair to help her stiffened joints due to Arthritis and residuals from Chemo-therapy as well, we got to go first in line and get our own tour-guide---sweetness!!! But when he snubbed me just for asking questions about Rage Against the Machine playing on the balcony of the Exchange that's when I told my parents I'll be outside, since I have no interest in the NYSE or finance in general---other than the obvious--save your money---life insurance, even though its a pretty important institution to the global economy, which brings me back to Sept. 11, 2001.
Stepping up from the escalators and walking the barriers of the subway to the outside world, I started to remember all the pictures, flowers, letters, words, that used to be all over the World Trade Center station. There isn't a lot of that on display anymore. The area near the Freedom Tower was packed. I immediately said out loud to some randoms in the area, "Oh the media circus is out today!" We just smiled and laughed. There were pieces of art on display as well outside that some pretty amazing artists created to commemorate the event of when it initially happened. However, there was this angry little-person (midget/dwarf if you want to be a jerk) having a freak-out at some NYPD because he was trying to walk-off with one of the objects on display. Watching the NYPD officer very easily take the over-sized towering sculpture out of the very angry thief's hand was not only comical, but quite a site for the media circus and the usual passer-byes take notice. We all were sticking-up for the cop because of all days to walk off with a piece of art. Seriously what a jerk!
Outside the media fence (they seriously were behind barriers), I started talking to one of the local artists about what he was displaying. He told me about his family that was at one time shot by some NYPD cops, and I was impressed with both him and his friend's work that was a huge mural of showing respect to the cops, fire-fighters, EMT workers, and other people of service from that day. I talked to him about my family, friends, and neighbors that were victims on the day of Sept. 11, 2001, and that I petitioned the government about the idea that it should be a Federal Holiday where schools are closed. Only one person signed-it, me, the writer of this blog-Lori. Of course, the other side of "the argument" is "we need to get over that," but I'm sorry, 3, 000 people died that day just for doing their usual routine not to mention the cops, fire-fighers, and ambulance workers from all over the country and world that are still dying from the Aespostis in the air. While most people like to think comedians are just comical-clowns that should only bring humor to the world. Jon Stewart of the Daily Show did one of the greatest displays of journalism/news that not a single "real" news source ever did when the Senate was filibustering a Bill that dealt with giving EMT, Fire-fighters, and Police, I think also some victim families aid that were effected by Sept. 11, 2001, or shall I say, have the audacity to do for whatever their "spin" is from Fox News to MSNBC only mentioning Stewart's clip because they were covering some celeb-scandal. Or CNN and BBC didn't exactly do a piece like this. Here's the clip that I'm referring to and I am a member of NJ CERT (Community Emergency Response Technician) after saving my mother's life from calling 9-1-1 when she was having a seizure from a second-brain tumor operation:http://www.firefighter-emt.com/archives/jon-stewart-daily-show-interviews-911-responders.php
After being in some photos by the 1000's of some random tourists/news/bloggers that were in that area for the 20-30 minutes I was only standing there talking to some people, I then took a stroll towards the Trinity Church. It wasn't so packed as it was near the buildings, and much quieter/calm. There seemed to have been a special service taking place, so I didn't go inside, instead walked around at all the old tombstones that dwell there like Alexander Hamilton-$10-bill and founder of the Department of Treasury, assassinated by Aaron Burr. As I was walking towards a Halloween Store and then the Brooklyn Bridge, I was asked for directions to Park Avenue. I pointed in the direction, but also informed the man that I'm not from NYC just born in the hospital back in 1980, but technically from NJ. He then asked me, "So you basically come into the city and find things on instinct?" I smiled and said, "Yeah that's sometimes what happens." He thanked me and walked in the direction I pointed in, as I started walking towards the Brooklyn Bridge.
The last time I walked on the bridge was at night-time of summer 2012. My original intentions was for some facebook event of an indie film or something. But by the time the trains arrived and I got on the subway, I already missed the event, but was in the neighborhood of the bridge on the Brooklyn side. I have walked the length of that bridge numerous times with friends or even by myself. I always love the view of how on one side you can see to even beyond the Statue of Liberty, while looking at the other side and see all the way to the Bronx on a clear day.
I noticed a lot of graffiti writing on the walls of the bridge. I took out my marker and wrote what I was feeling at that very second and what I still am feeling on some wooden boards, "I love you" with a giant heart. After a nice stroll on the bridge, surrounded by couples and lovers mixed with some gorgeous weather, I started reflecting about somethings. I found myself at a little cafe/counter-spot after my nice stroll. I had some friendly chit-chat with the counter guy, ate my grilled chicken salad and was on my way. I considered staying in the city at night time to see the giant lights that are forever now the reminders of where the buildings once stood. However, I changed my mind and decided to head back home to the Jersey-side.
In light of something that happened to me unfortunately on Sept. 11, 2011, in Seoul, South Korea where I became a statistic and unfortunate victim of rape, I wrote a petition to the government about trying to make Sept. 11, a federal recognized holiday where schools, banks, post offices, and all federal buildings are closed to never forget the day that changed, not just how things are in the United States, but around the world in terms of security.
Before the buildings collapsed, there used to be a giant shopping mall in the underground. The last time my family and I ventured into the city together was to help motivate my brother who at one time wanted to work on Wall Street, while also considering Law School. So we went to the Stock Exchange. At this time, we were only taking extreme local trips, since my late mom's energy level was not so high due to chemo/radiation treatments with both Ovarian and Brain Cancer. Since she got to hop in a wheel-chair to help her stiffened joints due to Arthritis and residuals from Chemo-therapy as well, we got to go first in line and get our own tour-guide---sweetness!!! But when he snubbed me just for asking questions about Rage Against the Machine playing on the balcony of the Exchange that's when I told my parents I'll be outside, since I have no interest in the NYSE or finance in general---other than the obvious--save your money---life insurance, even though its a pretty important institution to the global economy, which brings me back to Sept. 11, 2001.
Stepping up from the escalators and walking the barriers of the subway to the outside world, I started to remember all the pictures, flowers, letters, words, that used to be all over the World Trade Center station. There isn't a lot of that on display anymore. The area near the Freedom Tower was packed. I immediately said out loud to some randoms in the area, "Oh the media circus is out today!" We just smiled and laughed. There were pieces of art on display as well outside that some pretty amazing artists created to commemorate the event of when it initially happened. However, there was this angry little-person (midget/dwarf if you want to be a jerk) having a freak-out at some NYPD because he was trying to walk-off with one of the objects on display. Watching the NYPD officer very easily take the over-sized towering sculpture out of the very angry thief's hand was not only comical, but quite a site for the media circus and the usual passer-byes take notice. We all were sticking-up for the cop because of all days to walk off with a piece of art. Seriously what a jerk!
Outside the media fence (they seriously were behind barriers), I started talking to one of the local artists about what he was displaying. He told me about his family that was at one time shot by some NYPD cops, and I was impressed with both him and his friend's work that was a huge mural of showing respect to the cops, fire-fighters, EMT workers, and other people of service from that day. I talked to him about my family, friends, and neighbors that were victims on the day of Sept. 11, 2001, and that I petitioned the government about the idea that it should be a Federal Holiday where schools are closed. Only one person signed-it, me, the writer of this blog-Lori. Of course, the other side of "the argument" is "we need to get over that," but I'm sorry, 3, 000 people died that day just for doing their usual routine not to mention the cops, fire-fighers, and ambulance workers from all over the country and world that are still dying from the Aespostis in the air. While most people like to think comedians are just comical-clowns that should only bring humor to the world. Jon Stewart of the Daily Show did one of the greatest displays of journalism/news that not a single "real" news source ever did when the Senate was filibustering a Bill that dealt with giving EMT, Fire-fighters, and Police, I think also some victim families aid that were effected by Sept. 11, 2001, or shall I say, have the audacity to do for whatever their "spin" is from Fox News to MSNBC only mentioning Stewart's clip because they were covering some celeb-scandal. Or CNN and BBC didn't exactly do a piece like this. Here's the clip that I'm referring to and I am a member of NJ CERT (Community Emergency Response Technician) after saving my mother's life from calling 9-1-1 when she was having a seizure from a second-brain tumor operation:http://www.firefighter-emt.com/archives/jon-stewart-daily-show-interviews-911-responders.php
After being in some photos by the 1000's of some random tourists/news/bloggers that were in that area for the 20-30 minutes I was only standing there talking to some people, I then took a stroll towards the Trinity Church. It wasn't so packed as it was near the buildings, and much quieter/calm. There seemed to have been a special service taking place, so I didn't go inside, instead walked around at all the old tombstones that dwell there like Alexander Hamilton-$10-bill and founder of the Department of Treasury, assassinated by Aaron Burr. As I was walking towards a Halloween Store and then the Brooklyn Bridge, I was asked for directions to Park Avenue. I pointed in the direction, but also informed the man that I'm not from NYC just born in the hospital back in 1980, but technically from NJ. He then asked me, "So you basically come into the city and find things on instinct?" I smiled and said, "Yeah that's sometimes what happens." He thanked me and walked in the direction I pointed in, as I started walking towards the Brooklyn Bridge.
The last time I walked on the bridge was at night-time of summer 2012. My original intentions was for some facebook event of an indie film or something. But by the time the trains arrived and I got on the subway, I already missed the event, but was in the neighborhood of the bridge on the Brooklyn side. I have walked the length of that bridge numerous times with friends or even by myself. I always love the view of how on one side you can see to even beyond the Statue of Liberty, while looking at the other side and see all the way to the Bronx on a clear day.
I noticed a lot of graffiti writing on the walls of the bridge. I took out my marker and wrote what I was feeling at that very second and what I still am feeling on some wooden boards, "I love you" with a giant heart. After a nice stroll on the bridge, surrounded by couples and lovers mixed with some gorgeous weather, I started reflecting about somethings. I found myself at a little cafe/counter-spot after my nice stroll. I had some friendly chit-chat with the counter guy, ate my grilled chicken salad and was on my way. I considered staying in the city at night time to see the giant lights that are forever now the reminders of where the buildings once stood. However, I changed my mind and decided to head back home to the Jersey-side.
In light of something that happened to me unfortunately on Sept. 11, 2011, in Seoul, South Korea where I became a statistic and unfortunate victim of rape, I wrote a petition to the government about trying to make Sept. 11, a federal recognized holiday where schools, banks, post offices, and all federal buildings are closed to never forget the day that changed, not just how things are in the United States, but around the world in terms of security.
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