Home Again

From our family's beach house on eastern Long Island
to our home in northern New Jersey is about a
two-and-a-half hour drive.  Without traffic.

Without traffic is rare, especially on a Sunday evening

following a warm, beautiful weekend at Long Island's shore.

Long Island Sound in Southold; we brought a picnic breakfast here on Sunday morning.

But coming home last evening, the 11th of September, the

traffic on the New York City bridges and their approaches was eerily light.

I guess I was not the only one a little bit spooked by the terror plot warnings concerning New York's bridges.

When we landed firmly on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, I confess I was glad, and relieved.

And how many times does that happen?

(I'm allowed to make Jersey jokes; I live here.)

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As Howard and I ran errands yesterday out on the North Fork,
we snapped some pictures; it was one of those stunningly
perfect September days.  Just like it was ten years ago. 

These pictures were all taken in the Village of Southold,

where the Stars and Stripes was in full flight, as it was all across our great land.

Founders' Landing, where the first settlers set foot in 1640.  Southold is the oldest English-settled town in NY State.
You can see Irene damage on the tree, and the browned grass where water flooded over the bulkheads.

A one-room schoolhouse, part of the Village's museum complex.

Do you see both passengers in this pony cart?

Flying Old Glory!

A weathered barn, right on Main Street in the Village.

 Humble barns, and garages on swanky seaside homes, wore the colors.

In town, flags lined Main Street.

At the Southold Fire Department, an enormous flag.

 And at its base . . . 

 an empty pair of firefighter's boots, and folded gear.

After the attack, firemen and rescue and EMT volunteers from

near and far, including from Southold, helped at the WTC.

  

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On a lighter note . . . because it is a shore community, what else

would you expect to find atop the Southold fire siren tower but . . .

an Osprey nest?

Are Ospreys hard of hearing?  I imagine Mrs. Osprey had a few choice words for Mr. Osprey about his choice of home.

Southold is a village of old houses,

and they, too, flew our flag.

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Things changed forever on that day.

The WTC from the Jersey City side of the Hudson River, in 2000. 

Photo by The AP.

The WTC, Sunday evening, 2011 -- the beams of light.

Photo by my niece, Alice, who lives in Jersey City.  She was in tenth grade in 2001.

Forget?  It would be impossible.

God Bless America.  -- Cass

Link Parties:

Mosaic Monday at Little Red House.  Click here.

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch.  Click here.