On September 11th I went into Manhattan with the goal of getting some pictures of the Freedom Tower and the World Trade Center Tribute Lights. A few years back we took some shots from Brooklyn but I wanted to get closer this time. While I got closer I also got emotional. It is very easy to get emotional when visiting anywhere near the Freedom Tower. I just wasn't expecting it while I was actually taking the picture.
The Sphere use to be located in between the Twin Towers in the courtyard. It was moved to Battery Park in lower Manhattan after Sept 11th. In front of the sphere they have an Eternal flame that is lit 24/7 in honor of those that lost their lives on that tragic day. I have taken pictures of this over the years but this was the first time they had American flags up around it and a picture of the firefighters with their American flag.
It is also the first time I was able to get the Freedom Tower in the background as it is finally high enough to see it among the other buildings. As I was taking the picture I felt myself getting mad.
Back when I worked in the subway system I use to make sure I had lunch every Thursday near the sphere. There use to be a little fence around it where one could sit down. On Thursdays the NYC oldies station WCBS-FM use to have a famous bands from the 1950's -1970's play there. I use to get a delicious Pita bread like sandwich from the same hot dog wagon and take it into the courtyard and listen to some bands play while on my lunch hour. I saw some great Do-wop bands and some great singers from the 50's and 60's and even saw the Monkeys who were great.
So while I was taking the picture I had all these memories flashing back at me. Thinking about some people that I knew that perished that day. Wondering if the hot dog guy that I use to buy my lunch from almost every day made it out of there on time. I started to wonder about all the people that were sitting next to me at the concerts who I sat and talked to. Whatever happened to these people that I met almost every week. I then thought about how I went up in the towers when I was about 5 or 10. I use to love it up there, the elevator ride itself was worth the price alone.
I started to get mad when I realized that my nephews and nieces never got to see New York City from up on top of the World Trade Center like I did. For the first time in a long time I was mad at the terrorist that took that away from them. All these emotions went through me in a matter of seconds although it seemed like an eternity while I was taking the shot.