I’m always caught by surprise
A Fall morning blue and crisp, with
Change in the air, suddenly I Look Up.
It was a day like any other that
Became a day like nothing we could ever imagine
Everything slowed into soft focus…
My children, where were my children?
My neighbor wandering aimlessly on our street
My husband waiting by the dock for bodies
Waiting,,
Should I give blood, what can I do?
How could 22 years have passed by
And every year that beautiful, cloudless sky
Descends, demands that I pay attention
That we say their names, that I say his name
Michael Patrick Tucker
Buena Vista Avenue, Rumson
MountainMornings 
aww, Chris.
Hugs Peg
Wow…I remember that day like it was yesterday…I will never, ever forget how Bob handled it prior to it being a true disaster (not a drill) and am so grateful for his wisdom! “Shut everything down (both offices) and let the employees get home to their families!” which was before he got called in to go to the dock. I also remember after it, him trying to reassure me by quoting “I’m afraid we have woken the sleeping giant…” while I was sobbing in my office.
Oh Denise, you just made me cry. Those feelings are so close to the surface, always. We only got ash covered friends returning home on the ferry because they were late for work that day. Bob told me about your pt, the elevator repair guy at TT
who stayed home b/c he was sick and watched it all in your office…
Yes, I remember the patient also and Sue’s uncle on 93. I had a good ugly cry while I was typing the response but am grateful for Bob being there to help us all. I had no idea at the time that I lost people I went to school with (in Middletown). The husband of my boss was a NYPD officer (retired) and drove the bus to bring the teams in and out. He refuses to even speak of it.
Edit to add, I grew up in Middletown… far to many names to list…