9/11
As soon as the day ended, I knew that date would be stuck in my head forever.
I walked to workâfrom the East Village down to Mercer Street in SoHo. The weather was 70 degrees, zero clouds, zero humidity. It’s sadly ironic, but whenever I feel perfect weather, I think of 9/11.
I watched the towers fall from my boss’ roof. I could feel the ground shake when each tower fell. In the distance you could hear people screaming. When I left work later in the day, the streets were deserted. Lower Manhattan felt like a movie set. No cars. Very few people. It was surreal.
My girlfriend, who would later become my wife, lived in Queens and since the subways had all been shut down, I couldn’t get to her. So I put on my rollerblades and rollerbladed from East Village, over the Queensboro Bridge, to Astoria Queens, about 5 miles. Every now and then a police car would pass me coming from Ground Zero, tossing dust and debris in my face. For the next month, the smell of burning iron swept through my windows.
Below are some photos I took on my walk to work 11 years ago today.
Grabbing Hands
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
All for themselves
After all
Self-Sacrificing
fukka
Hazy Shade
KONY 2012
Via my wife. Pretty incredible film and campaign.
See also Invisible Children
Update: There’s an interesting counter-point over at the Atlantic on Why We Should Take Heart From the Backlash Against Kony2012.
Banned
It’s Just a Ride
The Truth
Remember
Today on this 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year, we pause to remember the fallen.
May they rest in peace.