The Wind In The Heights

Thank you for the beautifully written reminiscence of Brooklyn Heights on 9/11. My daughter lived then in an apartment in Brooklyn Heights. When we visited her, before 9/11, she walked us around the neighborhood and along the promenade. It had all the loveliness and magic you describe. It is a wonderful neighborhood of families, children playing, and quiet streets. Both my daughter and my son were at the World Trade Center that 9/11. Both survived, walking out of lower Manhattan to her apartment. It was a day the memory of which still sends a chilling sorrow throughout my blood. I have written briefly about it (originally a letter sent to family and close friends) here-- http://www.tobeyfamily.org/luckyday.html:

Posted by Ron Tobey at May 19, 2005 4:04 PM

Simply extraordinary.

Posted by Jille at May 19, 2005 4:37 PM

We should be exposed to more reminders. Your recollections of that day are very powerful and touching.

Our family members have been planting trees in remembrance of those whose lives were lost on September 11. Until now, I hadn't been able to decide what my own tree will be. Thanks to your inspiration, it will be a Golden-rain.

Posted by danae at May 19, 2005 10:41 PM

I live(d) 3000 miles away. But, living ten miles from LAX, I remember that silence; and it wasn't even just the absence of aircraft. No cars, no dogs barking, no one in the street. Nothing; at midday.

Posted by Juliette at May 20, 2005 2:01 AM

I was correcting homework at 2330 Bangkok time, when a friend phoned, frantic for me to see what was on TV... I finally shut the surreal window at 0300 in the middle of a LONG DARK NIGHT...

But that seismic quake, shaking around the world, helped me come down on the side of life, liberty and a renewed desire to pursue a happiness protected from the hate-filled thugs and monsters who were dancing in the streets!

Posted by Carridine at May 20, 2005 3:41 AM

the walk north from Houston and Greenwich was a blur. my boss and I tried to gain some sort of perspective on the situation - each of us lost close friends and/or family, though we wouldn't learn that for a few days, until the 'missing' became the lost.

the doctors and nurses waiting for patients on 10th. the sirens heading south, but not coming back uptown. a herd of people silently moving away from the cloud blowing hard towards the promenade of which you speak.

people ask me all the time to explain why am I such an ardent supporter of the WOT, of the War in Iraq, of the military, and a such a foe of the 'peace at any price' crowd, and why I do some of the things I do in that vein.

I stand for what I do because I can't sit by and allow something like this to happen again, and I'll do whatever I can to make sure it never does.

thank you for this post. it means a lot to see others who relive that day and it's aftermath.

Posted by dan at May 21, 2005 12:12 AM

can the writer Vanderleum email me at gordonjanef@yahoo.com - i'm a freelance writer working on a story and i'd like to speak to her/him. thanks.

Posted by jane gordon at January 13, 2006 12:22 PM