Good Monday morning dear friend. I would love to share with you my great experience I had back in 2013 before the Freedom Tower was completed. But before I share that with you, I must go back thirteen months prior to that, back during the Superstorm Sandy of 2012. For all of us here on the eastern side of the Unite States how can we forget that storm. Long story short I had met my dear friends brother and his son Mark Jr. (last name not given). I had met them because of my tree cutting experience, and the fact that a huge Red Oak had fallen on Mark Sr's house from Sandy's fury.
Mark Jr. is unique, and a true hero. Mark Jr. is a 9/11/01 survivor, he worked for the N.Y Port Authority Police during that time. He shared with me some of those horrific events that happened on that fateful day, at least as much as he could until he could no longer. Mark Jr. lost his partner that day, his partner that was also his best friend. This part of the story ends here.
Mark Jr. and I became very good friends, we spent hours talking, joking, and just sharing our life experiences with one another. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. Well, Mark offered to take Bob (Mark Jr's Uncle, my friend) and I on a tour through N.Y. City. The only time I spent in N.Y. before that is when I was being shipped out to go to Army basic training, then coming home from the service. But I never stepped foot out in the streets of the city. So we went through the Bronx, Manhattan, and then before we could go over to Brooklyn, he had to cut our tour off because of his work. But before I left he promised to pickup where we left off. Thirteen months later is where we picked up, Mark called his Uncle Bob and told him to bring me to Hoboken N.J. and meet us at the park next to the Hudson River. Once meeting Jr. there he told us he would be taking us on a tour in and around the Freedom Tower, and to get there we were taking a subway over. Needless to say, I was excited, I have never been on a subway 🚉 before. The experience was awesome. Once we arrived at the Freedom Tower we were standing outside next to this long supply line that was waiting for the service elevator, they were taking supplies to the construction workers on the 105th floor, the very top. I happened to look to my left and I seen Jr. talking to a construction guy wearing a white helmet who was looking directly at me, I didn't give it much thought at that moment, not until he told the other workers they had to make room for us three on the next supply trip up. That is when I realized our trip up was going to be on the service elevator, the service elevator is on the OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING. Allow me to let you in on a little secret, this boy right here is AFRAID OF HEIGHTS, okay. It is a caged service elevator, caged is see through. So I spoke to Mark Jr. and advised him of this problem of mine, and all he said was "You did not drive three hours down here to chicken 🐔 out now, did you?" So, yeah, you guessed it, I got in stood next to the backside closest to the building, it was the longest 12 minutes of my life. On the way up, my throat became dry as a desert, the palms of my hands were wet from sweat 😰 and I was as silent as a lion stalking it's prey.
After reaching the top floor we walked across some planks that joined the elevator to the building, I just about ran across them. But man, oh man, what a spectacular view, breath taking. I even stood next to the sphere and took a picture looking up at it. I also seen some of the construction workers that were hanging over the side of the building, that freaked me out as well. Then I happened to see a view that made me forget where I was for a few moments, I was looking straight down into the Twin Towers Memorial, it was truly heartbreaking, all I could think about were those poor innocent people who were trapped inside those buildings, it brought tears to my eyes. Then I started to appreciate the beautiful view of that Memorial, it represented those who were taken that day.
I have said all of that to bring this point across, what would I have missed out on had I given in to my FEAR of heights? For one, I would not have felt that great feeling of defeating my fear, which is undescribable by the way. The pictures I would never have taken, the view of the Hudson River and the surrounding areas of the other boroughs, the Brooklyn Bridge, I would have missed it all. And of course my time with Mark Jr. and Bob.
Don't miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime or an opportunity to face something new because of fear. Don't allow fear to defeat you, you defeat it. And remember this as well, not all fear is bad, only the fear that keeps you from moving forward is bad.
Have a great Monday dear friend, take care and stay safe.
P.S. I almost forgot to mention, since conquering my fear of heights, my brother Jason and I have gone rock climbing several times. And will be doing so again very soon. I owe Mark Jr. a great deal for helping overcome that fear.
MOHLovesAlaska
