The Choices We Have As Americans

Thirteen years ago, I woke up to a ringing phone a little before 9 a.m. I had gotten home late the night before from a rained out Yankee game, and well…was moving a little slow. At that moment things changed forever.

Jason: “Hello?!”

Dave: “Jason it’s Dave, are you OK?”

Jason: “Uh, I had a few too many beers, and got home pretty late last night, but other than that, I’m fine. Dude, isn’t it like 6 a.m. on the West Coast?”

Dave: “Oh my Go-, Jay, go turn on the TV!”

Jason: “Holy sh—“

Dave: “Yeah dude, this looks pretty bad. Glad to hear you’re OK, do you know if Bob is working today?”

Jason: “I have no idea, but he’s all the way up in the Theater District. Hey man, I’m gonna grab some cameras, and head out to take some pictures, I’ll call you later.”

Somewhere between hanging up the phone, and running out of the door, the second plane hit. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw both towers in flames. I got on my bike and just started riding downtown from my apartment in Chelsea.

Everyone has a story about where they were that day. It changed all of us to the core that day. I have a longer article about who Bobby was and my day here if you’d like to read more: 

The Rangefinder and WPPI office is in downtown Manhattan, not too far from the World Trade Center. I have a choice to take my New Jersey Transit train into New York Penn Station, or take the PATH downtown from Newark Penn Station. Both take about the same time, but it’s a nice walk from the PATH. The PATH comes in right underneath the World Trade Center, and you exit at the base of the new Freedom Tower. It’s exciting to see the progress, and the new tower is spectacular. I have to admit though, it felt very eerie coming up from the sub-basement train station at the Freedom Tower on this cool, late summer morning. The weather every year reminds of that day, and as our weather changes from summer to fall, I unfortunately remember this anniversary is coming. As I was thinking about writing this article, I thought about the choice I have to take today, and that I decided I would choose to come into the World Trade Center.

As Americans we have choices, we have the freedom to choose when and where we want to go at any given moment. The people who planned the 9/11 attacks did so because they didn’t believe in the fundamentals of freedom. So today, I’ll be pointing my middle finger into the sky as I come out to the glorious view of the Freedom Tower. You took my friend Bobby that day, but his spirit is with me and all of those who loved him everyday. You also gave us a day to remember the freedoms we have as Americans, and for that, I thank you.