Greg Mix
My first view of the buildings must have been in the summer of 1969. They were under construction when my family visited New York on our annual vacation. The real attraction that summer was Neil Armstrong's first small step for man. We went to the top of the Empire State Building on that trip, still then the tallest building in the world. In the distance we could see the two towers under construction that would soon take over that status.
Beginning in 1975 I found myself living in New York for a few years. On frequent trips to Manhattan, the tracks of the Long Island Railroad followed a path that revealed the distant silhouette of the skyline. The view of the World Trade Center and the Empire State Building quickened my pulse each time I saw them. I visited the twin towers several times to enjoy the view.
In May of 1979 my Father hosted a family reunion dinner for our east coast relations at Windows on the World. Unfortunately the World on that foggy evening consisted of looking down at the window washer's rope disappearing into the mist below. But it was nice to catch up with family we rarely saw. After dinner we all said a warm goodbye in the street below.
The next year, in 1980, Mary met my parents and my brother and sister in law for the very first time in New York City. Dinner was at Windows on the World again, on a spectacular evening. I remember borrowing a rose for Mary from the arrangement at the maitre-d's station. None of us realized then that only a year later we'd be married.
In the winter of 2000, Kyle was introduced to New York. The whole family had flown to New Jersey for an event with Mary's family. Kyle and I needed to get back to California on Sunday. We made an early getaway from our hotel and had a Dunkin' Donuts breakfast on the road. Soon, Kyle and I drove out of the Garden State through the Holland Tunnel into Manhattan to spend a couple of hours visiting the city. We passed Grand Central Station, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the NY Stock Exchange and more. There was only time for one stop before we had to head to the Airport. Kyle chose the top of the World Trade Center. Finding a parking spot was tough and expensive, even on a Sunday. But we eventually parked and walked the same few blocks that 18 months later were converted to a scene of devastation.
We needed to clear our ears from the rapid elevation change in the elevator on the way up. The view from the top was spectacular. We slowly toured the gallery and pointed out landmarks to each other in every direction. After a brief visit to the gift shop where we bypassed the Liberty and World Trade Center statuettes, tee shirts, and postcards, it was time to head down. A group of kids about the same age as Kyle rode the same elevator down with us. Everyone was giggling and commenting about the way the car rocked back and forth as it sped 100 stories back to earth.
Our tour was over, but the most memorable event of the day was yet to come. As Kyle and I were walking through the lobby toward the revolving door, a particularly sweet looking 14 year old girl tapped Kyle on the shoulder and asked where he was from. With a surprised look on his face he responded "California" then hurriedly pushed on the revolving door and we were out on the Plaza between the two towers. We were both too startled by the experience to ask the girl where she was from or for her name. He wouldn't look back, but something had changed that day. Kyle truly had become an eligible young teenager with a new phase of his life opening in front of him.
We don't know anyone directly effected by the tragedies of September 11th. But like all Americans, indeed everyone the world over, those events have resonated in our daily lives. Strangely, even for a family from California the World Trade Center had a place in our lives. First meetings, reunions, and a coming of age all converged at that one place.
Christmas time is a time to be thankful for our many blessings and to remember those who have been through so much this past year. I think about the woman who sold us our tickets to the tower elevators so recently. About the clerks in the souvenir shop selling trinkets and tee shirts, the man directing us to the elevators. Where are they this Christmas? Where are their families?
Kyle still has the ticket stub from our visit to the World Trade Center on a small stand on his bookshelf. At first it was there because of the experience with his unnamed admirer and the fact that when his student ticket was used, the remaining stub showed the word STUD in big bold letters. He brought it downstairs to show it to us on the evening of September 11th this year. It has a different meaning for us all now.
From our family to yours...
Greg, Mary, Kyle, and Ryan Mix