Remembering that Dreadful Day

Do you remember where you were when you first heard a plane struck one of the Twin Towers?

Did you immediately flip on the T.V. and begin watching it?

Did you call someone else and tell them to turn the on T.V.?

Were you watching it live when you saw the second plane strike the other tower?

Did you see people jumping to escape the heat, fire and smoke?

Were you watching as the towers fell?

Were you glued to the T.V. the rest of the day? And for a good part of the next several days?

If you’re like me, you can answer YES to all of these questions.  I remember that day like it was last week.  It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years since that dreadful day.

I feel a special kinship to New Yorkers, since I lived there for a few years.  I feel as though I am an adopted New Yorker. 

I lived in lower Manhattan.  I often used the Twin Towers as a guide to get my bearings, especially when exiting a subway hole. 

When I lived in Brooklyn, I always tried to spot the World Trade Centers from roof tops and high vantage points.  They were magnificent!  They towered above everything around them.  They were the King and Queen of Downtown.

I never imagined they would fall.  I assumed the firefighters would eventually put out the fires.  When they fell, it was like someone stabbed me with a knife.  I remember covering my mouth in awe and being in shock.  I couldn’t speak.  I felt tears begin to burn my eyes.

Oh, those poor people inside them…those poor people on the ground around them.  They also never expected them to fall.

Although, I don’t know of any friends or acquaintances that I lost on that day, I did have friends and friends of friends who lived and worked in and around the area.  I was thankful to hear they were all safe.

My father-in-law worked in a building near the Pentagon.  Fortunately he was far enough away from the destruction and was kept safe. 

Whenever I see a program on T.V. about 9/11, I’m glued to it, like I was on that dreadful day.  I relive the pain. 

Will we ever completely heal?  Those of us that remember it like I do, will never completely heal from it.  When we die and get to the other side, I want to shake the hands of the first responders and thank them for their valiant efforts.  I want to witness the reunion, of those that died in that attack, with their families and friends they left behind.  And then, finally, I think my emotional wounds will be healed.

Finding William: Freaks Have Guts

Finding William: Freaks Have Guts: "I love meeting interesting people and if you look at the pic below, you'll know he's an interesting dude. This is Gordon. Gordon enjoys r..."

Freaks Have Guts

I love meeting interesting people and if you look at the pic below, you'll know he's an interesting dude.

This is Gordon.  Gordon enjoys riding his 3-wheeled bike around town.  Everytime I see him, he is wearing his post mastectomy prosthetic breasts (aka fake boobs), sports blazer and construction worker's hard hat.  If you are ever lucky enough to see him with his hard hat off, you'll be able to see his sweet skullet.

That's the beauty of our world...people are so different.  It's nice to see someone with the guts to be themselves.  It's too bad many of us are so afraid of what people think of us, so we really don't act ourselves.

The next time you see someone a little freaky, just remember, they have guts to be who they are.

Finding William: Jerry is the Best

Finding William: Jerry is the Best: "So I now have a new favorite place in Memphis. It's Jerry's Sno Cones! Maybe you've heard of it...maybe you've been there. That place is..."

Jerry is the Best

So I now have a new favorite place in Memphis.  It's Jerry's Sno Cones!  Maybe you've heard of it...maybe you've been there.

That place is awesome!

It's in this cool, little old gas station, in a not so good part of town.

With so many flavors to choose from, it makes it hard to decide when ordering.  I'm sure whichever one you choose, it's going to be good.  I like the kind with ice cream in the center.

The line is usually ridiculously long.  However, it moves way fast...the employees do a great job of taking your order and getting your sno cone to you in a hurry.

So, if you're going to be in Memphis, Jerry's Sno Cones is a must do.

Finding William: Best Hotdog in L.A.

Finding William: Best Hotdog in L.A.: "We were unable to find a parking spot in its parking lot so we had to park on the street a block away. I hoped this was a sure sign this pl..."

Best Hotdog in L.A.

We were unable to find a parking spot in its parking lot so we had to park on the street a block away.  I hoped this was a sure sign this place was good.

As were entered the famous Pink's Hotdogs I could see many celebrities' autographed pics hanging on the walls.  From Will Ferrell to Larry David to Jamie Foxx...they have all eaten here...as well as many other celebs.  I wondered if they are regulars or just a one time thing to get their pics up on the wall.

Hotdogs are hotdogs, right?  I think places like this, it's a matter of ambience and knowing this is one of the most popular hotdog places in L.A.  Because of this, the hotdog tasted just a little better.

Although I am a little biased to NYC hotdogs, I would take newcomers to Pink's for the experience, and to have a few more dogs.

Have you ever been to Pink's?