The above is an image that I took in 2003/04? 

I had moved to NY/Long Island just a month prior to Sept 11th 2001. A few days after the attacks I went into NYC with a friend, still in disbelief and needing to see for myself….. and I have yet to develop those rolls of film.

10 years later, I am playing in the grass tickling my baby’s toes. Her laugh and smile is everything to me.

10 years ago I sat all day in the ER of the hospital in Queens, NY that I was working at. Ready. Waiting to help and watching the TV in horror. Our hospital was on lock down. We were not allowed to leave. I knew my father worked in Manhattan but I had only lived in NY for a month at the time and didn’t know the city enough to know where he was in relation to the World Trade Center. It took three days to hear from him.

This morning was spent 2,000 miles away from NYC. Unable to document and be apart of any ceremonies and memorials.

I really wanted to be in New York City today.

I’ve cried a lot today.

Maya will never know life prior to 9/11. She’ll grow up in school where the words “war” and “terrorism” could be part of day to day discussions and life, not just a history lesson. I can’t protect her from evil but I can give her many mornings like this morning. One where the air and sky were just beautiful (eerily like on that day, 10 years ago). You can feel the air is starting to get that bit of coolness, fall is just around the corner. A morning of giggles, learning and exploring.

Today, like many Sunday mornings in the summer and fall, we can be found at the City Park Farmer’s Market. Saying “hi”, from a distance, to all the dogs and big kids around us. Learning colors, shapes and textures while picking out our produce for the week.