When I was growing up I remember hearing adults discussing where they were when JFK was assassinated, and I asked my Grandma about it, she said you always remember where you were when something tragic happens.
On September 11, 2001 I remember exactly where I was. I was 36 weeks pregnant with my son Spencer, I was at home on bedrest and I was asleep. My husband called me and asked me if I had heard what happened, and he told me to turn on the television. I was horrified at what I saw and I was so confused and couldn’t believe what was happening. Things like that weren’t supposed to happen here, I think I must have cried a million times that day. My husband’s office was in Hollywood in a high security building about 35 miles from our home. Shortly after the first plane hit the World Trade Center there were bomb threats to his office and they had to evacuate the building. He came home and we had to go to the hospital for stress tests on the baby.
As we sat in the hospital while I was hooked up to the fetal monitors I kept thinking to myself, please please little one do not be born today. I must admit I was very afraid, I was wondering if Los Angeles would be the next target. I also didn’t want my son to be born on a day of such sadness. He wasn’t born that day, he waited 8 days and arrived on 9/19.
I cannot believe it’s been seven years since this happened to out country. I hope today you will all remember to give your loved ones extra hugs and kisses and be grateful for them and for the time you have with them. We often forget how precious time is and how quickly our lives can change.
I took this photo in 1999 on my last trip to New York prior to 9/11. I was still using film back then and it was such a windy day that I couldn’t hold the camera still and my hair kept flying in front of the lens. We were on the boat to go out to the Statue of Liberty.
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