My 23rd year is a hard one from which to pick one event or memory to represent the year. The year was the last one before children. Work got really busy, we did a ton of stuff with friends, I got pregnant for the first time, we went to Disneyland (world? the one in FL) that spring, and it was even the year I started blogging. It was quite the year.
It was also the year of 9-11. As of the attack, I had never been to New York. That December I was asked to go out of town for some presentations for work and one of the trips was a one-night stay in New York. I flew in at night. I remember passing over Ground Zero in the plane and seeing the bright lights where everyone was working. It became quite real at that point. I honestly don’t even remember flying into the airport now. I know I took a cab to the Marriott right in Times Square (I know I was quite proud of myself though having only flown by myself one other time).
That night we had dinner (where I tried calamari for the first time) and a meet and greet type thing at a bar (where everyone marveled I was not drinking) and on the way back we were able to walk by Ground Zero. I tried to get some pictures but it was just too dark. The only one you can really see is this one memory wall we passed by.
I also took some time to go out to Times Square and another street over where all the shops were to get some pictures. Several of the billboards had recognition of 9-11 up.
This one I think is sort of funny…Britney Spears in her heyday is advertising for Pepsi there.
The next day, our meeting only lasted until 2 or so. I had met another woman at the meeting who was just as excited as me to get out and see some sights. And boy did we make some quick rounds. We went to see the ice skating rink, went up the Empire State building, down to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty and then high-tailed it to the airport. It was probably the shortest sight-seeing trip ever but it definitely gave me a feel for the city and some familiarity when I see or hear about New York in the media.
I’m really glad I got to visit New York in a sad, but significant time in history. Who knows, it may be my only visit ever to New York. I’m glad I got to do it at least once.
I have to say I think my 23rd year was probably one of my favorite years. Scott and I were well established, we had a ton of fun with our friends, we were active in church, work was a lot of fun, I was feeling more confident than ever, we got pregnant. It was just a great time. I’m so, so, so glad we didn’t get pregnant in the previous two years though because as I was getting ready to find out in the next year motherhood is hard!
I’m not sure if you can see it, but in your picture of the Virgin Megastore, above that sign, in blue letters is “Bertlesmann Building”. That’s where I worked for 7 years, and I was working there that year. I was there on 9/11. Of course that entire event was a much different experience for me, but on a positive note, isn’t it interesting that you were doing the tourist thing the same time I was walking around and working in the same place?
I hope you do get back to NYC – there’s so much more to see and explore, and your girls would love it!
EDW’s last blog post..And each time I feel like this inside, there’s one thing I wanna know