Monday, September 12, 2011

A Walk in the Woods

I'm not really comfortable sharing very personal things, so suffice it to say that yesterday was a very difficult day for my husband and I.  I worked in the Twin Towers up to a month before the attacks, and my husband worked across the street from them.  He saw things that day that he hardly talks about, and I, who was heavily pregnant at the time and working in Midtown (because I just couldn't ride the subway anymore), thought that I had lost him and that the last words I had said to him were "I don't care what they tell you.  If it seems like something is wrong there, get the hell out and come up to me".  Then the phones went dead, and of course, it took hours to find out what had really happened.  I had no idea if I had a husband anymore, until he came walking up 5th Avenue.

I can tell you that 10 years is not enough time to erase the horror-it just dulls it a little.  And it doesn't ever feel like it's been 10 years when I think about that day. 

We needed to get away yesterday and do something away from news and stories.  We went for a hike.  There is a preserve 15 minutes up the road from us, hidden away.  It was really interesting, as it has ice caves.  Unfortunately, there was no ice in them, but it was a really cool experience anyway (ha!  Get it?).  This was our day in summary.

We were going up there.

Pretty trees


And lots of rocks


BIG rocks


And nooks for little people to go into


At the top: the view




Some of us were very prepared


A bit of a walk and then down to the caves

And yep, down those too


And then in




And then up


And in another cave


And when we came out, some of us were really hungry


A good day overall



But boy, were we tired!



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4 comments:

  1. I wasn't there but even still the images are some of the most vivid in my mind even after ten years. Looks like you all had a good day escaping to the woods, how cool to have caves so close to you!
    katy

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  2. Looks like a great day - certainly much better than that other day.

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  3. Jocelyn, not to beat the horse we don't want to see, but thank you for stopping by and leaving your comment. What I wrote was only the tiny tip of the iceberg of what I saw and felt and still feel, and I am so glad that you reached out to me and shared your experience, which is I know as complex and emotional as mine. No one else can really understand. I am so trying to be in the present and in happiness; it is a very complex issue. I can only imagine your joy at seeing your husband come in the door; you are a lucky girl, and I am sure you will hug your hubs and kids each day and each 9/11....

    My love to you~ A

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  4. That day was a horrific and emotional day even for those of us here in Canada. I still can't bear to hear the stories without crying. I can't even imagine how horrific it would have been to experience it first hand. I am so glad your husband returned to you safely. I think your choice of where to spend the day was a beautiful choice.

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