This past weekend my husband surprised me with an overnight trip to NYC to celebrate my birthday.
We stayed at the Millennium Hilton which overlooks the WTC site.
We’ve stayed downtown before since 9/11 (exactly 4 years ago in fact) but this time our room looked right down at the construction- what there is, anyway. There’s movement but it still looks like a crater.
This trip brought some closure I hadn’t realized I needed. The last trip in 2003 was with the kids, and we kept busy doing touristy things with them. This time it was like revisiting the past. 
Three weeks before 9/11/2001 Pat and I spent the weekend at the Marriott hotel that sat in the shadows of the towers. We had an amazing time, including an evening hanging out on Bleecker St. at the Back Fence Bar.
This past Saturday we were joined by Pat’s sister Jeanine and her husband, Richie, and we ended up back at the Back Fence. 
I’m not positive but I think it was the same musicians as last time. Pat made a request, “Annie’s Song” (yes, they were doing John Denver covers!) and even though they really didn’t have it down, they sure tried! All kinds of demons I didn’t know were still here were exorcised this weekend. It’s funny how things stay stuck back in your head, even as life goes on, and you don’t even know they’re back there. I guess because I so rarely get to NY. I don’t know, makes little sense, but that’s the reality. Anyway, 
it felt good. Really good.
I was even birthday-spanked at Lucky Cheng’s. Hard to top that for birthday fun!
One Comment
Hi Annie,
My wife and daughter stayed at the Millenium when they went to NYC last fall. They really enjoyed it, and it’s less expensive on weekends! (what a deal!). In fact, it looks like they stayed on the same side of the bldg, overlooking ground zero. What great views of the river, etc. from there.