On 9/11
by Jean Ryan
Published by
Jean Ryan
Jean Ryan, a native Vermonter, lives in Lillian, Alabama. Her stories and essays have appeared in a variety of journals and anthologies. She has also published a novel, LOST SISTER. Her short story collections, SURVIVAL SKILLS and LOVERS AND LONERS, are available online. STRANGE COMPANY, a collection of short nature essays, is available in paperback as well as digital and audio editions. View all posts by Jean Ryan
Jean Ryan 
What a beautiful image to commemorate the day. It calls up so many memories; I had just taken the red-eye back to NYC the morning before. The love of my life, my next breath — was stuck in Japan and would not arrive home until a week later due to travel difficulties. I was downtown most of the day yesterday and I was omni-aware of how quiet and thoughtful the City seemed. I was grateful and made a point to greet everyone with whom I made eye contact with a ‘good morning’, ‘good afternoon’, ‘what a lovely day’. By the time I got home last night I could see the bright dual lights at the WTC site from my apartment which seem to endlessly shine into the sheltering night sky. If I weren’t such a Luddite I’d post it here but I will send it to your other email, JR. Thank you for posting that symbol of Unity. You rock, JR! Thank you!
Thank you for these sweet thoughts. Death and disaster teach us to love one another better. I too felt fragile yesterday, but more compassionate, too. We need one another more than we know.