How strange looking back. I can remember exactly where we were. Evan was sitting in the front seat of the moving truck, parked in Jim's driveway. Evan opened the window pale and stunned looking and said to me "I have terrible news".
We had arrived in Portsmouth, NH late September 10 after driving 3000 miles across the country for Evan to start his new job at UNH and us to start our new life as husband and wife.
We had driven through New York in our giant, rickety U-Haul truck only a day before all Hell broke loose. The whole East Coast was shaken to its core. Everyone knew someone who was in the building, or inside one of the planes. I've never felt so outside looking in.
Starting in October Evan and I took our first trip of many to ground zero. I wish I could describe in words what it was like being among the stores still coated inside and out with thick coats of dust and rubble, the people wandering dazed and bleary eyed around the site, giant boards covered with notes from people pleading for news of loved ones...
The stories of heroism, selflessness and miracle abounded during those dark days. The days following September 11 touched the entire country, but nowhere as deep or resounding as on the east coast. I am and always will be a westcoast girl, and I hope I never see my home brutalized like this.
I would like to think that we would stand strong and united the way the eastcoast community did. I was amazed with their strength, spirit and pride.
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That's great that you guys were able to visit ground zero that soon after - I can't imagine what that was like...
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