Lest we forget

I came to New York on business last year at the beginning of September and it was exceptionally hot - verified by the locals so not just the words of a Scot unused to seeing the big yellow thing in the sky.  After the hot summer months I confidently predicted to my sister and brother in-law that it would be hot when they came.  It turned out not to be the case - in fact our trip to Coney Island was so cold that we had no option but to shelter in the Aquarium again.  Summer is officially over it seems.

Still, they had come to see Harriet and she had a wonderful time with them.  The last time they had seen her, other than Skype, was our trip to Scotland just before we moved so they got to see quite a change.  She had them run ragged at times but I'm sure they all had a great time.

On the Sunday J and H went apple picking with Samara, T, Elisa and Gavin so we went to the 9/11 memorial that had just opened.  The task of designing such a place cannot have been easy - just where do you begin with something that massive.  

What they have done is very special though.  The two pools sit in the footprint of the twin towers and the water runs down the edge, draining away in the centre where you eventually lose sight of it.  The names of everyone killed in all the attacks are written on panels that surround the edge of the pools.  Many of the names were accompanied by a few flowers. 

There is much there that speaks of the loss - the gaping holes where the buildings stood and the draining away of the water - but much too that speaks of hope and renewal.  As the trees grow it will become a very special place in New York.