Getting emotional in the health club…

The health club is not a place I usually get emotional. If I’m feeling any emotion, it’s usually hatred at my body or the treadmill because every now and then I feel like I want to fall off the treadmill due to fatigue. Other than that, I’m concentrating on getting the workout done and am not emotional.

Today was different. Right when I got on the treadmill and started my 50 minute, 3 mile journey this morning, I looked at the television screens about 10 feet in front of me. At first, I was confused. Why is there a naval carrier in New York City? Then I thought it was fleet week and I was trying to remember when that usually happens. And I decided that it must be now because there was no other reason for a huge warship to be in New York Harbor…and then it hit me…

It wasn’t fleet week. There was a reason that naval carrier was in New York Harbor…and it just wasn’t any carrier…it was the U.S.S. New York, a brand new ship made with steel from the World Trade Center. And as I got into my treadmill zone, I realized that the ship was going past Ground Zero and my eyes immediately filled with tears and I had to grip the treadmill so I stayed on it. It took me a few minutes for the tears to subside.

Since I had plenty of workout left, I had some time to reflect on what I had just seen. I’m sure there are people who probably disapprove of how that steel was used. But I bet most, like me, think that for this particular steel, it is an appropriate use – from fragmented, singed steel to a strong symbol of military strength. I’d like to think that most people who lost their lives on that tragic day would approve of this use of the steel that surrounded them.

I hope the terrorists who perpetuated this heinous act eight years ago will see that the United States turns tragedy into strength.

It was very emotional to see that the circle had closed this morning in New York Harbor.