Hope's Future
May 8, 2011 
It was just one week ago – today – that I wandered thru and past and around the site we know as ‘Ground Zero’. It was only a few short hours before we all heard that the mastermind of this disaster – had been finally..and at last put to rest.
It wasn’t my first visit to the place. It was 6 years ago – the last time I was there. One enormous gaping empty hole…was all that remained. It was – for me – like visiting a mass grave. Not so different than those that I’d heard of in eastern Europe..and in the deepest darkest Africa. Somber and immensely sad..it overwhelmed. That a horror such as this – where so many innocent people died – happened here…in this country – was and still is incomprehensible.
That was 6 years ago. Today – the hole is no longer. Today – it is in the midst of being reconstructed. New structure is emerging from the debris…and a memorial – rays and beams of hope and light – will be completed by 9-11-2011..ten years following.
Life goes on.
We all know exactly where we were..what we were doing when it happened. I heard it first on my car radio. It sounded more like a ‘test of the emergency broadcast system’ than anything remotely close to real. The first plane had hit. There was a second..and a third..and confusion and chaos and lots and lots of noise. Impossible. It just couldn’t be true. Inconceivable…really.
My kids remember it as a day that their crazy mother (along with many others..I may add) showed up during that all important first week of school…summoned them out of their classes..brought them home. Safe. It wasn’t until we were all present and accounted for…watching the events unfold over and over and over again – that the enormity sunk in. The world as we knew it – had ended. The sense of – perhaps – false security we’d been living...shattered. Our innocence...lost.
During my most recent and last weekend’s visit to the city..and much farther uptown – I came across this little boy. Happily – playing with bubbles. Chasing them down. Trying to capture them in the palms of his little hands. Five years old – he proudly proclaimed – and almost finished kindergarten.
Born ‘after’ the historic event…growing up only in its shadow. Carefree and full of life. A mere child. He knows nothing..nor should he. We all hope and wish – that he may never.
Someday – I’m sure – he’ll study and learn about it in history books. As if this happened in a different life…a different time. Perhaps – he’ll come to understand the circumstances better than we ever will. Perhaps – he’ll never understand it at all…because it’s all too incomprehensible. Defying rational…logical explanation. That there is so much hate in this world. That anything like this could ever in anyone’s lifetime – occur.
Couldn’t help but think of this past weekend’s contrasts. From the solemnity of Ground Zero..to the frivolity of Central Park.
After returning home..I awakened the following morning to the news. Once and again – a sense of disbelief…and then relief. Closure…at last. An end of an era. A new beginning. A fresh start.
For one quick instant – he managed to catch that bubble he’d been pursuing. To hold on to it. To feel - in his hands – its weightlessness. And then – in the next..it was gone. Just like that – it popped and disappeared into the spring sunshine. All laughter and light and joyous sweet innocent giggles.
Yes – life does go on.
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Cross-posted today (Monday) over at Vision and Verb - where a collaborative group of like-minded women from all over the world share their passion for photography and the written word.
Reader Comments (44)
How eloquently you have expressed this. You speak for so many of us with these beautiful words, this symbolism and your beautiful photograph.
This is one of the best essays that I have read about this event. I have goosebumps all over from reading this. We were newly arrived in Japan when this occurred. We were so lost and dazed about it all. It must have been so different being here in the US, I think. Such a wonderful piece and the photo with it is...perfect.
Wow Marcie!!....what a beautiful rendition of a horrific historical event intertwined with the joys found in life and of new beginnings ....weaving your story around this beautiful innocent boy playing in the park catching bubbles and giggling .....your words have touched me....thank you....peter:)
Life does go on indeed!
Ground Zero rising like the Phoenix out of the ashes of 9.11.
superbe ce jeu de bulle !
what a lovely image and wonderful bokeh!
Somehow, I forget that the history books are updated, and that things that we go through will be captured in history books for the next generations. That feels very wow - right now.
Life does go on. Love the interplay of past and present.
marvelous photo
The juxtaposition of this image against the one still in my mind's eye from almost 10 years ago, Marcie, is the ultimate validation that Life wins. Love wins. Light wins. Thank you for this beautiful reminder!
Life does go on and that is a delightful shot.
Yes life goes on and that picture is a perfect way of illustrating that fact.
Oh Marcie, this is so beautifully written... it brought tears to my eyes. Every day I walk in a park with a 9/11 memorial -- a twisted piece of metal from one of the towers. Our town lost 16 people that day... my son, who was in 8th grade at the time, served two funeral masses for victims. I will remember till the day I die that cloudless, beautiful morning which was so at odds with the horror that was unfolding. I'm not sure I believe in closure, but I certainly believe in a sense of rightness... of justice having been served...
yes, i remember that day, i won't say how i remember this atrocity, but i sure do... this is a very beautiful picture, Marcie, hard to believe there are people alive who don't remember that day...
Amazing juxtapositions, just brilliant, Marcie. What a photo.
such a precious photo Marcie...
I can (and have!) spent countless hours in Central Park watching children play with bubbles and for the reasons you describe all so well. Now on a different note, the next time you are in NYC we must get together!!
Beautifully said and shown, Marcie. Thank you.
Aye, what is not comprehensible to you, is so to me. For me, it doesn't defy rational and logical explanation. It followed history.
It is ideal that there shouldn't be so much hate in the world, but that is an ideal.
It is also ideal that there shouldn't be so much greed in the world, but we are now looking into the core of humanity.
Greed is a joust, a battle of its own. There are always losers that will be filled by hate or despair.
They the young, the 'innocent' will soon shed their wonder of the world around them, to participate. Will they chase greed, hate, despair or work on hope for all?
Sorry, that was a bit negative, but realistic all the same. The child's transfer to adulthood is not always nice to observe. The bubbles can burst.
The words are thought provoking and the picture excellent.
Love how the bubbles represents how fragile and fleeting some things can be. Such a beautifully written post.
fantastic shot, poetic
Great photo for great title and nice words.
yeah, life does go....
Gorgeous , happy image bathed with super light :)
An excellent title for this warm photo of a child and his bbbles.
And how thankful I am that life does go on. It still evokes such strong emotions though. What a wonderful picture of that boy, so carefree.
simply wonderful!
we all go through life just once and in the scheme of things it's really just a blink of an eye, so why oh why, does there have to be evil?
A precious portrait with these words. I hope he never fully understands it.
This is yor best shot i've seen from you Marcie!!! I realy love this one.......fantastic work and is must be hanging on the wall!!!!!
Your photo so perfectly complements the words.
.Fantastic work Marcie
l'innocence est comme une bulle de savon . Quand on croit la tenir, elle éclate et ne reste plus que l'idée de l innocence à peine humide sur nos doigts. joli cadrage
Marcie! This photo is--well, the right word escapes me, but it's beautiful and touching--and I wish I had been the photographer!!! Great work!
Your thoughts recall "that day" with the searing visions that haunted us then as they do now. I had friends who were near the Towers, and one was right below when the first plane struck. We are never far from the horrible or the beautiful in this life. It is an intriguing mix. I'm thankful for the people who try to bring in beauty, goodness, and hope.
just at the right moment.. nice catch.. :)
Lovely photo marcie. The DOF is great.
Such is life joy.
beautiful moment captured here!
Gorgeous image!
Perfect and uplifting!
The photo is fantastic, I really love it.
I have read your article and I hope that terrorism killing so many innocents will be reduce significantly soon.
Thank you to America for killing Ben Laden !
Perfect pairing of image and thoughts Marcie. It was an awful day I remember so vividly--such a violent and sudden loss of innocence.
great mood, so well done!!
As good with words as with photography ❤
Marcie, this is beautiful! Fantastic photo and words.
such a touching photo. one that hold so much hope and happiness.
You have moved me. Thank you.