This has always been one of my favorite images. For those who were in NYC, I can't imagine the shock of seeing the skyline emptied of their presence.
A few years back we took down a massive oak that provided much needed shade in a corner of our patio. It had become diseased, and with hurricane season right around the corner, it was time to remove the risk. The tree removal crew showed up and began taking it down. It was an all day job - one I couldn't watch. I'm probably considered a bit odd, but I was teary eyed and sad. The branches trembled and shook as they were slowly removed. Just as I expected, the gap left presented an odd sight, and it seemed as if our yard would never look right again. The tree's canopy no longer offered shelter and the squirrels were in a snit. Who knows how many birds lost a nest, their sanctuary gone. Slowly over time, we became used to the altered view. The tree next to this one could now grow straighter, instead of listing to the left, a pitiful attempt at capturing it's share of the sun.
I imagine the skyline appeared to NY'ers like that on that day and for the years after, altered forever, a bizarre and foreign skyline. The shade and shadow of the towers gone, as if two massive trees had been felled. I still think of those who came only with the expectations of providing for their families, like birds and squirrels scattered about on branches. They came as they always did, to a job, to work, and never left.
J, Hope you don't mind me re-posting something from my FB page here. My thoughts for today and two stanzas from a 9/11 poem.
Lift each other up today. Love one another. Be a light. Set aside your differences, your skin colors, the thoughts that prompt you to teach hatred thinking that it is love. Only love today. Try.
Nine Eleven
We stood together in disbelief and shock We stood together in fear We stood together in hope and purpose We stood together in awe
We stood together in pain and fire We stood together then We stand together in strength and love We stand together now
7 comments:
Such a solemn image, so fitting for today.
Remember.
Today...Amen.
The West remembers.
This has always been one of my favorite images. For those who were in NYC, I can't imagine the shock of seeing the skyline emptied of their presence.
A few years back we took down a massive oak that provided much needed shade in a corner of our patio. It had become diseased, and with hurricane season right around the corner, it was time to remove the risk. The tree removal crew showed up and began taking it down. It was an all day job - one I couldn't watch. I'm probably considered a bit odd, but I was teary eyed and sad. The branches trembled and shook as they were slowly removed. Just as I expected, the gap left presented an odd sight, and it seemed as if our yard would never look right again. The tree's canopy no longer offered shelter and the squirrels were in a snit. Who knows how many birds lost a nest, their sanctuary gone. Slowly over time, we became used to the altered view. The tree next to this one could now grow straighter, instead of listing to the left, a pitiful attempt at capturing it's share of the sun.
I imagine the skyline appeared to NY'ers like that on that day and for the years after, altered forever, a bizarre and foreign skyline. The shade and shadow of the towers gone, as if two massive trees had been felled. I still think of those who came only with the expectations of providing for their families, like birds and squirrels scattered about on branches. They came as they always did, to a job, to work, and never left.
No, we can never forget.
This picture is how my heart feels.
Here in DC, they have patched up the side of the Pentagon, but the marble is different, whiter, like a scar.
It seems there are a lot less people who remember these days. Thank you for always taking the time to do that.
J,
Hope you don't mind me re-posting something from my FB page here. My thoughts for today and two stanzas from a 9/11 poem.
Lift each other up today. Love one another. Be a light.
Set aside your differences, your skin colors, the thoughts that prompt you to teach hatred thinking that it is love.
Only love today.
Try.
Nine Eleven
We stood together in disbelief and shock
We stood together in fear
We stood together in hope and purpose
We stood together in awe
We stood together in pain and fire
We stood together then
We stand together in strength and love
We stand together now
I remember and I will not forget...
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