I will never forget.
I grew up in a suburb of NYC and went into the city all the time. I moved away when I left home, but not far away (Connecticut). I was actually in Manhattan the weekend before 9/11, and it was just "the city" - for the last time. I remember thinking nothing of the skyline, driving over the bridge. It was there - it would always be there. And then it wasn't.
A couple of weeks ago, I had to fly out somewhere for work. They had us fly out of LaGuardia. It was the first time I'd flown since 9/11. When I flew home, they put us into a holding pattern over the East River. I looked out of the window, and saw the Empire State Bldg lit up in red, white, and blue. And then I saw ground zero from above. I can't begin to describe it.
I was scared to fly, but I'm glad I did. Take that, Osama.