World Trade Center Memorial Documentary

I am sick with the flu.  I went in and added a bit to this post that I had posted a while back.

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My husband is an arborist.  Several years ago things were going really, really well for us and suddenly that came to a grounding halt that rocked our world.  It was one of those times when you don't know why God has you on a certain path, but you just trust...it turned out that God's plan was for my husband to be part of the World Trade Center Memorial in Lower Manhattan.  Once that happened, it felt like his whole life, every decision he'd made had lead up to being part of this project.  It was such an honor to give back like that.

Scott Elliott of 590 Films has been documenting my husband's work from very early on.  Since the Memorial opened we have been working on having Scott film our family's first trip to the Memorial.  I will be honest here, and this may surprise people, I didn't want to go to the Memorial.  It was an emotionally very difficult thing.  Although I had been there many times after the attacks, looked through the fence, saw the armed guards, saw the steel that was left that looked like a crucifix...although I had done all of that, I was not ready to face this new thing, this memorial, which is why it took us a year to do it.

on our way to the Memorial

In the 1940s and 1950s my grandfather owned a barber shop on West Broadway that was torn down to make room for World Trade Center Plaza.  So, in some ways, this neighborhood has always felt a little like part of the family for me.  There are so many family stories about the barber shop, we all have a piece of it in our homes: chairs, bowls, other cool things.

Having Jason be part of the Memorial meant so much to my family as we all have a connection to this neighborhood.

Freedom Tower in the distance

I have lived in New Jersey for most of my life. When I was young and we would go to Manhattan--which was fairly often--I would always look for the Twin Towers.  You could not miss them.  They were, in my opinion, the strongest thing that set the New York Skyline apart from other skylines in other cities.

Now, as we approach the city, we can see the Freedom Tower.  I like it.  It's like a beacon, a sentinel, guarding us and reminding us at the same time.  It stands strong and proud, already taller than the other buildings and they have a few more floors yet to build.

when it is done it will be the tallest building.

It is a little surreal knowing someone is filming your every move.  It is really hard NOT to think about it and to just act naturally.  I was aware of all the little things my kids were doing.  You know, like pushing each other and rolling their eyes at me.

Scott is SUCH a great guy and made us feel really comfortable!

One of the coolest things was that prior to this experience, Piper had been spending a lot of time making videos.  All kinds of videos: stop motion, music videos, interviews, how-to, etc.  I can totally see Piper pursuing a career in documentary film-making.  Scott was really excited about this and she got to talk to him a little bit about what he does.  He said that if she is interested in an internship when she gets a little older, he would have a spot for her!  How cool is that?

when a camera follows you around anywhere, attention is drawn to you

There were a lot of emotions when we were there, from my family's almost century-long connection with the neighborhood to my wishing my Uncle could be there with us.  So often when we would go into the city, we would arrange to meet him, even if just for dinner.  He would have LOVED to be there for this.  He was SO PROUD of Jason.

One of Jason's trees

The trees were powerful for us when we were there.  Maybe because Jason has been involved with them for so long or maybe because they are the first thing you see when you get there.  You hear the rushing water and you see the trees...it has a power to take you out of yourself, to remember not only that day but that there is something greater than us present in this space, in this world.

Hubby's trees

getting mic'd

Looks like the city behind me, right?  But in front of me...it was a peaceful, beautiful oasis in the middle of one of the most influential cities on the planet.

This is what I was looking at as I was getting prepped:

I like how the clouds reflect in the building.

I was surprised at how small the Memorial is.  It is not completely open yet, and even with these big reflecting pools, it feels very intimate.  The combination of trees and rushing water makes it feel peaceful.

The mood is somber, reflective.  We were really aware of where we were and why we were there and what happened there.

it was emotional for both Jason and I when he was standing there with the girls...reflecting on the project, the reason for it, the world...

Jason and the girls at the World Trade Center Memorial

We wish with all of our hearts that there was no need for this Memorial.  We wish that day had never happened.  That day changed the course of every American life.  We live differently now, no longer trusting as much, no longer feeling as safe.  Jason is glad to have been able to be part of the place that people can go to remember the lives lost that day.

World Trade Center Memorial fountains

I will be honest, I feel funny that we are smiling in these photos.  We walked in and it was somber, we were reflective.  But other people were smiling, there is some joy in this space.  I know that may be hard to fathom, but it is there.  When I look at these photos, I think I should not post them because we look happy...but then when I remember being there, I remember that it was reflective and somber, but there is also a certain amount of healing and joy and peace there as well.  It is hard to explain.

I've been through a lot this past year.

The thing I learned is that you do just keep putting one foot in front of the other, breathing.

It seems crazy,

it seems like your world is ending,

yet somehow something takes over when our emotions are raw and we keep going.

and the sun does come out again...

and you see our American flag in the midst of the trees and you vow to yourself and this country, your kids and all that is holy that you are not going to let the dark side win...

you will keep on, keeping on...

when you are in pain,

it sometimes seems wrong that there is still beauty in this world.

and then one day, you can appreciate it again.

This was an absolutely amazing experience that we were blessed to have had an opportunity to be part of.  Not a day went by that we didn't think of the families that were affected by this.  

NEVER FORGET.

Scott Elliott of 590 Films

interviewing the family

After the girls and I did our part, we wandered around while Jason spent some time with the film crew.

Jason is now a pro at putting the mic on

We did a little spying on Jason and the guys making the documentary.

I love that you are invited to touch the names.

I imagined those touches as little hugs, love that maybe could take away some of the pain and fear.

I love the open-ness, the invitation, the understanding that we need to touch these people, we need to touch this place as it has touched all of our lives.

It seems both wrong and right that happiness could be here.

Reflection, absolutely.

World Trade Center Memorial
Lower Manhattan
New York

Understanding, definitely.

It has been an honor for Jason to be part of this project.

To all those who lost a loved one we offer our sincere condolences.

We hope that you find some peace in this Memorial.

National Geographic

I have a bad late night habit of getting on the computer and getting too tired to get off.  My eyes are literally half closed and I have no energy to get up from the computer, so I surf the web, read blogs, check emails, tweet...and Google my name, my husband's name...whatever I can think of to not have to get up from the couch or bed and put the laptop down...

A few weeks ago, I Googled Jason's name.  In addition to various things he is doing as Chairman of our local Shade Tree Commission, there were a lot of things relating to the WTC Memorial.  One of those things was a quote in A Place of Remembrance: The Official Book of the National September 11 Memorial (9/11 Memorial) published by National Geographic.

Jason was sleeping when I found it (as I tend to Google late, late at night).  My first thought was to wake him up, but then I decided to order it and give it to him for Christmas.

If you know me, you know that keeping a secret THAT BIG is really hard for me.

But I managed to do it!

He opened it and thought it was cool to have a book about the project.

I told him to flip to the page that was marked.

I had a post-it under his name.

His girls were so proud of him!

Our whole family was able to express their pride in him,

their congratulations.

It was a very special moment. 

I am so glad that I waited until Christmas--

so that we could share that moment with our family!

World Trade Center

The events of 9/11/01 affected the entire world.  It affected the whole country.  It affected Manhattan and the outlying areas where we live.  We knew people who did not survive.  We know people who worked as first responders.  We know people who could not get in touch with their loved ones in the city.  We know people who watched from their office buildings as planes hit the towers.

We wish with all of our hearts that these events had never happened.  If ever there was a time for a do-over, it is that morning.  But we can't erase the events of that day, we can only move forward.  We can not let the terrorists win, not then and not now and not ever.

It has been such a bittersweet honor for my husband to have been involved in this project.  On the one hand, we wish the events of that day never happened and on the other, we are glad to have had a chance to give back.

Over the last few years, Jason has gotten to be friends with Scott Elliott, an independent film producer who has been filming the creation of the World Trade Center Memorial.  Please visit Scott's website to learn more about this project.  


The Trees from Scott Elliott on Vimeo.

Not a day goes by where we don't think of the events of that bright September morning.

Not a night goes by where we do not pray for the victims, the survivors and the terrorists.

We never want to forget.

We never will forget.

God Bless the United States of America

The Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero

If you have been around here for a while, you may know that for the last five years, my husband has had the opportunity to be part of a unique, very emotional, historical project.  I have been very limited in what and how much I can say about this.  This is not about publicity.  It's so much, much more than that.   It's a chance to give back.  It's a chance to heal and to help others to heal.

 My husband believes that his whole life has lead up to being part of this project.

Over the next few weeks, there will be documentaries and tons of news coverage.  My husband has been interviewed and filmed, although we have no idea what will make it on to the actual national and local news.

On August 25, the Discovery Channel will air a documentary, The Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero.

Jason was filmed and interviewed for this project, although we have no idea what was cut and what was left in.

We live less than 40 miles from Manhattan.  We know people who were in the Twin Towers that day.  Some who got out...and some who did not.  I can not even think about that day without welling up.  The stories...oh, the stories.... What has always stuck out in my mind about that day and the days after was how we stuck together.  How emergency response teams risked their lives, how firemen and policemen showed their badges and jumped in cars to get there as fast as they could on or off duty, how regular civilians lined the streets with bottled water and thank you signs for the responders, how traffic was shut down on the Turnpike so that local builders could donate and drive their big equipment into the city with no traffic in an effort to find survivors.  We banded together.  This is the American spirit.  We showed the world the true meaning of America.

 While we wish with all of our hearts that the tragedy of 9/11 had never happened and we will NEVER forget that day for the rest of our lives, Jason was and is completely humbled and honored to be part of this project.  I would like to personally take this opportunity to tell his Division Manager and everyone involved on this project how much being part of this has meant to our family.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.

Glad We Have THIS Dad!

Today is the perfect day for this blog hop!  We are so proud of our dad/husband!  He is involved with a huge project and has spent the last few days being interviewed by various news sources.  One interview will air on  CBS Philly Channel 3 at 6pm tonight and the other will be part of ABC New York Channel 7 coverage of September 11.

Here we are, all anxiously waiting for him to appear on the news!!

How does he fit into our homeschooling? Jason  was on board with homeschooling since before I was!  His parents were hippies, so he definitely appreciates being open, doing things differently, listening to yourself and your needs.  When he was a teenager, he worked with two brothers that were homeschooled and they were two of the smartest, most respectful, kindest people he has known.  He also had friends who taught in a variety of private schools and has always favored a different approach to education than that of a public school.

Jason has read "Nurtureshock" by Po Bronson and is now reading "Tools of the Mind".  Last night, he pored through a "Science at Home" catalog and formulated an extensive Wish List.  Although I like science, he loves science and has a great way of explaining things so that people can understand complex scientific data.  He will be handling most of our science curriculum.

The girls have decided that he should be the Principal of our school.  As we have not yet officially started,we are not sure what this will mean.  Right now, we discuss theories and curricula and our children and our goals for them.  One of Jason's biggest things currently with the girls is having them set goals, daily, weekly and long term goals.

We have several - many, plenty, a lot, maybe too many - field trips planned.  Jason is very excited about many of them and will use some of his personal days to accompany us.

Jason is a huge believer that we never stop learning and he is very actively engaged in self improvement.  Last year he took several photography classes.  This year he looks forward to starting another photography class, as well as studying for several certifications in his industry and continuing with his yoga practice.  He volunteers on several town and church commissions.