The 9/11 Memorial Museum...

While Desire was in town we had to take a quick trip up to NY to visit our offices up there, which she didn't mind as it meant she would also have a chance to see the Big Apple - and I certainly never mind an excuse to spend some time in that wonderful city. In addition to showing her some of the highlights - Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City Music Hall, and Times Square - we also visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. 

We were lucky to have an unseasonably warm and beautifully sunny day with clear skies, which just makes the memorial and Freedom Tower that much more impressive. The two fountains which represent the twin towers and are built in their footprints are breath taking. Seeing all the names inscribed is really sobering, especially seeing the name of the son of my parent's friends who passed away that day. 

While the memorial is almost a peaceful area, the museum is something else, kind of hard to put in words, though I will say that it is very well done. It's basically one big timeline that you walk through starting with a similarly beautiful and clear day - that as we know quickly changed and as a result changed everything. 

One of the exhibits that stuck with me was this large wall with the quote - "No day shall erase you from the memory of time," Virgil - and the display that accompanied it - squares of blue - in different shades - all meant to represent the memories people have of the sky that morning - all a little different - yet when you put them all together they make something quite beautiful out of something that everyone would agree was anything but. 

Most of the museum restricted cameras - and rightfully so - the images, artifacts, videos, and recordings they curated deserve the respect of your devoted attention - and trust me, you don't need a camera to remember those images, they are forever etched in your mind - but in a positive way that I know helps us to remember, to continue to learn and hopefully continue to grow as a nation that will never be the same and yet can find a way to be better. What better symbol of that than to see Lady Liberty off in the distance after we left the museum - a comforting site for sure...