I wrote while we were in New York - 62 pages, to be exact - detailing as much as I could about each day. That being said, I know that you guys won't care about my strange shower head and other mundane details, so I ask you to hang in there with me while I sort through everything and try to get things down to a minimum.

Apparently, in either Japan or China (I lean more towards Japan, though I don't know why), paper cranes strung together are seen as a sign of peace and healing.

The first day we were in New York, we went by Ground Zero which is still a disheartening mess in my eyes. I hear people say that we need to just "get over it" and "move on" but I feel like September 11 is so much a part of who we are now. Our whole world stopped. It seemed like every person in America became a New Yorker at heart, reaching out to them with love and support, however possible. Visiting Ground Zero feels suffocating. No, there are no ruins, and yes, they are making way for a fantastic memorial, but I can't help feeling so sad for all of the people who never went home that afternoon.

Across the street from Ground Zero is a museum packed with facts, videos, pictures, and audio recordings from September 11th. As you walk down a flight of stairs into the basement, you notice hundreds of beautiful cranes strung together, hanging from the ceiling, boasting vibrant colors, offering peace and healing, even now.