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Published: August 6th 2007
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After a day that I can only describe as wildly stressful, during which I took the afternoon off to avoid a total breakdown, it was time to head off to Ellis Island.
I am one of the most popular people during our conferences, not because I am awesomely cool, but because I have all the answers and control a lot of the trips. So of course, the phone calls from people needing me started before I had even finished getting dressed or put my makeup on. I was also running a little late due to some wardrobe malfunctions - dressing alone means you can't pin your own dress - so I was crazed again by the time I arrived downstairs to meet the group.
Getting over two hundred people out of the lobby and on to the buses is no small feat (especially when each and every one of them wants a piece of you), but it was accomplished with almost no trouble. I was the last person on the last bus (that way, I get to be the person to say "go, if they can't make it on time, I don't want them coming anyway") and situated myself
in the back with the gift for the host firm. Despite assurances from our events team that there was no traffic, there WAS traffic and it took us a LONG time to get all the way to Battery Park. But it was quite a pleasant day weather-wise, so it was a decent ride. Towards the end of the trip, we did come upon the World Trade Center site. I had to look away - even though I've been down there since 9/11, the physical hole seems to represent the emotional hole from that day and it's hard to remember. Though we can never forget.
A couple of people in front of me were discussing it, and I added that I had been downtown only two weeks after that day. You could still see the coating of dust on the buildings, and the smell was indescribable and unforgettable. It's something I'll always have with me.
When we arrived at Battery Park, we followed the path along to the Peace Memorial - it was a globe built for peace and placed in between the two towers of the World Trade Center. When 9/11 happened, it was later found - damaged,
but intact. They moved it to Battery Park as a memorial, and placed an eternal flame in front of it. Everyone was quite solemn, standing in front of it on a beautiful and peaceful evening in New York. It brings a lump to my throat, thinking about it even now. It seemed very strange to see it sitting there, with the pigeons nestled in its various curvatures, but it gave us all a lot to think about.
Our walking journey ended at security, which required us to scan our belongings in an x-ray machine and walk through metal detectors. I passed my wrapped picture frame to the guard, and one of the men later joked that while they were all required to take their belts and jackets off, I only had to agree that a picture was in the wrapping and they let me through! I suppose I didn't appear to be dangerous!
The boat was a Circle Line ferry, which is typically used to tour around the island of Manhattan - fortunately, ours was going only to Ellis Island (for those of you that know the story of my last trip on a Circle Line boat, you'll
Professor Jackson
And all I keep thinking is, "I'm sorry Miss Jackson..."
PS - more photos to be added later, when we get the digital pics from the photographer understand why I was grateful). We did travel down to see the Statue of Liberty, and it was magical, framed by the setting sun. The breeze on my face and the view gave me hope for the upcoming evening.
Disembarking from the boat, we entered the main building at Ellis Island. I wasn't overwhelmed by a feeling of history until we were sitting in the registration room much later. But it was fun to see the wall with all of the names of the immigrants who had come through Ellis Island, and to see some of the other exhibits. I was busy running around and seeing people and chatting, so I didn't get to see as much of the "Peopling of America" as I would have liked. I guess I'll have to go back!
Since were were on a tight schedule and already running behind, we were soon shooed up to the second floor, where the registration hall is. This is where some 60 million immigrants looked to find a new life, and often did. But, as one of the lawyers pointed out to me this morning, many of them also died there, so there is a great
deal of sadness mingled with that hope. The room was beautifully set for us, with high arching ceilings that glowed blue with white stars that reminded me of the American flag. I was biased to favor the tables, since I chose the flowers and the table cloths, but it was lovely. Once we found our seats, we were treated to a speech by Professor Kenneth Jackson of Columbia University. He is an incredibly distinguished man and historian of all things New York. Although the acoustics were less than ideal, we learned a short but enlightening history of New York. His slow manner of speaking gave me chills when he observed that New York is a heterogeneous city, with Muslim cab drivers who do not take issue with the large Jewish population, and millions of legal immigrants in a city of only 9 million. It was this acceptance and desire for hope and a better way of life that was attacked on 9/11 - and yet we prevail. I think this city does grow on you.
As the professor spoke, the sun set outside and the lights of the city winked on until the skyline was lit behind him. It
was really incredible to see. Following his talk, we had a delicious meal that included a mozzarella salad, a lovely cut of beef with sweet potatoes (or the halibut, if you were so inclined, which I wasn't. If you know me, that's not surprising!), and apple pie - which I missed. Just before dessert, I had assisted in the gift presentation to the firm, and was then mingling until the dancing really picked up. I had to get out there and cut a rug with my lawyer friends, and my mom and sisters who were there as well. It all ended too early because of our curfew, and then it was time to shepherd the group back down the stairs and onto the boat. Everyone was so tickled by this special night though, that they continued to talk about it all the next day! I enjoyed myself, but I felt like the night went by so quickly because we had been waiting for it for so long, and it was so very expensive!! But as long as the lawyers liked it, that's all that matters!
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