john cabrera

That’s pretty moving, yo.

adnauseam:

Everybody always comments on how beautiful the day was. As if taking note of the tragic irony in that, I suppose. As if horrible things should not happen on beautiful days. I wouldn’t remember how beautiful the day was – I left too early in the morning for school to be able to see how sunny it could get before I’d be stuck inside with virtually no views for the next 6 hours or so – until I think about walking home from the bus stop with Cecilia.  There were bits of paper scattered all over the streets and I didn’t realize where they came from until I looked up and saw one sheet, maybe two or three floating in the air against the bluest, clearest sky.

It’s a beautiful image once you can see it objectively or remove yourself from the moment at least.
It haunts me.

Over the years I’ve forgotten details about that day: What did I see when I looked out the window in the biology department office that morning? Did I really see the South Tower become a tower of smoke like I see it in my head or is that an image I appropriated from the media? (For my own sake, I’m just going to say I made it up.)  I know I saw smoke – anyone, everyone could see the smoke – but when was I actually in the office? I don’t remember. But the paper in the sky, that I remember.

Today, it is disgusting. It is cold and grey and pouring. It was only raining lightly, not even hard enough to be considered rain, really, when I made it to my office at 9:04AM. Sometime after that, the clouds broke apart and the rain descended. In my mind, with a purpose. I am choosing to see meaning in that.

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The annual Floating Lantern Ceremony is at Pier 40 (W. Houston St at the Hudson River) from 6pm to 9pm tonight.

CityRoom liveblogged the memorial ceremony this morning.

(photo from gothamist)