Yes, I too occassionally feel affected by 9/11.

I have pictures of my sons standing on the observation deck of the tower(south tower)-- on 6-11-2001. (they were little then) Our very first time to New York, the east coast for that matter.
We were there exactly three months before--the attack.

we arrived at the tower around 9:00am and up the elevators we went... I was scared though, so I decided to read and watch the videos two floors below the top deck(terrible fear of heights-- yea like floor 108 is way lower than floor 110!?!)... there was an escalator that took people two floors up from the video deck/food court floor, where I decided to be- it took people on up to the observation deck that was outside. I stayed below at the video deck as my family all went on top- to the outside.
I walked from video to video, believing in the illusion that glass windows would protect, each video showing and then describing what view you're looking at from each vantage point.

then, husband came down the escalator exclaiming-- "Oh fins, you just have to come up top! It's so awesome- it's still and quiet, it's not frightening at all" so, with some added courage I went up with him to the top......

it was just like he said-- still and quiet- so calm. That day was clear and beautiful. The tiny little cars below, like ants on a trail, quietly all followed each other... people in them, going about their day, buses that looked to be pill bugs(rolly pollys) manuevering between the "ants"... it was really something .... I'll never forget it... I have the photo of my boys-- standing there on the building in the sky--
a reminder of what once was....
a beautiful clear day-- just like it would be three months later......

as I watched the tragedy unfold that Tuesday in September...... my heart sank, I thought of the workers up there on the video deck/food court floor-- the ones getting the grills ready for the days lunch time, chopping the lettuce for the side salads..... I thought of all the video machines full of interesting information and facts that suddenly quit replaying every 10 minutes... I thought of that two story escalator going up to the outside deck that must have followed many people, free falling down 100 stories.....
and....
I thought of my sons.....
three months to that day, were right there on the top of the building in the sky.....

fins

1-5-2011