September 11th

My first trip to nyc was November 2001 just after 9/11. Going to ground zero was the first place we went after flying in. It smelled like an electrical camp fire, something was different. There was a lot of work going on. Big dump trucks moving in and out. People were walking around quietly. Each person we met shared their 9/11 story. There was an automatic bond with those that we met. There were posters, teddy bears, letters, flags and flowers left for those who died. I am so glad I had the chance to go there so soon after 9/11. I was teaching 4th grade that year, my students wrote letters to the firemen. We actually stayed next door to one station that lost 15 firemen on 9/11. I left the letters with the station. There is a reverence that comes over me as I remember that trip. I have been to NYC 4 times since then.....but it was never like that first time I went.