9/11 Memorial on 11/19

The last time I was in New York City, I regretted not making it downtown, down to see whatever progress the city had made on the memorial and the new building. On this occasion, well past 9/11 and deep into a pandemic, we weren’t quite sure how complicated it would be to stop off and pay our respects. Outside in the chilly air, Melissa’s glasses kept fogging up as she tried to read the names, so she took her mask down, yards and yards from anyone but me. Unfortunately, memorial officers were stationed everywhere and she was politely asked to put her mask back up, meaning that I had to walk her around the memorial by hand, which made it difficult for her to experience in the same way. Still, the work they’ve done in this place, on this place, and for this place is pretty remarkable, and hard to catalog in a few words.