I crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge today and deliberately didn’t look south towards the city. On a clear day you can see the Manhattan skyline. On that day, all I could see was a pillar of smoke. I don’t like to think about it – too much pain and too many tears.

I went home early that day via the Bear Mountain bridge, 20 miles to the north. My brother Larry and I gathered a bunch of kids from the old neighborhood, ages 5 to 10. We brought them to the top of Clausland Mountain where you can see the city. I pointed to the smoke and said “Remember this. This is the most important event of our times. It changes your future.”

(picture is view from Clausland Mountain looking away from the city, north, towards the Bridge and Hook Mountain)