06/04/2021
By Kate Stone Lombardi

Last week I interviewed several survivors of 9/11. The interviews were for an article I’m writing about the 20th Anniversary of the attacks. It’s hard to believe that this September will mark two decades since that awful day.

I really didn’t want to ask these people walk through their 9/11 experiences again. For one thing, that story has been told. For another, it seemed prurient some how – an unnecessary public parading of their own pain and loss. I wanted to keep it more in the present – what do these anniversaries mean to them? How do they spend the day? How do they move forward with their lives while still honoring those who were lost.

Still, so far, everyone I’ve talked to so far returns to that day, and ponders why they are alive.

One question I’ve asked each survivor is: “What brings you joy now?” I can’t shake the answer of one man, who was pulled out from under the rubble of fallen debris.

He said, “What brings me joy? Oh, I don’t know. Opening my eyes in the morning. Realizing I’m still here. Breathing.”

Note: the illustrations above and below are painted by my brother, Todd Stone. Above is from his “Witness” series, done in the year after the attack. Below, is from his “Downtown Rising” series, where he is documenting the rebuilding of the site.