{"id":6833,"date":"2023-09-11T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-11T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=6833"},"modified":"2023-09-25T15:43:32","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T19:43:32","slug":"152-never-forget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/152-never-forget\/","title":{"rendered":"#152 – Never Forget"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
Blog #152 (Audio)<\/div><\/div>
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Published: <\/span>September 25, 2023<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>Audio by Andy Adkins<\/a><\/div><\/form><\/span>0<\/span> Downloads<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
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In the midst of all the chaos around my life right now, I\u2019m taking a few quiet moments to remember 9\/11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are only a few events during my lifetime, laser etched in my brain that I\u2019ll never forget–where I was, what I was doing, and who I was with… This is one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twenty-two years ago, I was in Saint Paul, Minnesota, attending (and speaking) at the Minnesota Small Law Firm Conference. I woke up in my hotel room and, like I usually did on these business trips, turned on the hotel TV to catch the morning news while I got ready for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I first heard a plane had hit one of the twin towers, I immediately thought it was a small sight-seeing plane flying in foggy weather. I have no idea why I thought that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little did I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a former firefighter, my mind bounced between watching the reality unfold and thinking, if I was there, what would I be doing had I been a NYC firefighter? Would I have been on duty? Would I have been one of the initial responders? Would I report in from off-duty?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I called Becky on a payphone (cell phones weren\u2019t prominent back then). She had yet to hear the news and immediately turned on the TV. We shared a few tears over the phone. Even though it wasn\u2019t mentioned at that time, we knew our country was under attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the second plane hit. Again, magnified horrification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was the first day of the Minnesota Small Firm Conference. It was still early, and I was on one of the first panel sessions. I wasn\u2019t sure what to do. I dressed and headed over to the conference hall. This was a day not to be alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the conference vendors had access to a TV. Dozens of us gathered around, trying to understand what all was happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I called one of my good friends who worked in New York. The phone lines were busy (still using landlines). It took several attempts to get through, but I finally reached her. She and her colleagues were fine\u2014they were in uptown NYC. Like us, they were “sheltering in place” and glued to the news. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another friend in NYC had grabbed her camera. She was a journalist and knowing this was history, headed downtown. Her photos of that day spoke volumes of the chaos throughout the city, especially the Wall Street area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That morning, I was one of the first speakers on a panel of three. Curt, Mary Pat, and I gathered in the room with about 40 attendees. Everyone knew what had happened. What do you do? What do you say? Where to begin?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all looked at each other and I finally said something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all aware of the tragic events earlier this morning in New York and Washington DC. It\u2019s a difficult time for us all. Let\u2019s take a few moments of silence\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After I made that comment, I can\u2019t remember a thing I said or did for the rest of the day. It was a blur. My mind bounced between the attack (we knew by then it was<\/em> a terrorist attack), and the firefighters who were not only fighting to save lives but also fighting to stay alive. And the thousands who died that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We lived through that day\u2026 we survived\u2026 we\u2019re still a great country. But it\u2019s one of those days I will Never Forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two other events that stand out to me over my lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One was the lunar landing on July 20, 1969. I was 14 years old; we were in the \u201cSpace Age,\u201d and I was fascinated with the universe\u2026 that, and girls. You remember those early days the summer before you began high school (back in my time, high school grades were 10th, 11th, and 12th).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. I was almost nine years old and way too young to understand what that was about, but I remember my mom and dad being very sad and\u2026 very protective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past few weeks, I\u2019ve attempted to sit down multiple times and write my blog post #151. Just when I thought I had a good idea, something else came along and I started over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First it was \u201cPay if Forward,\u201d and I was going to describe what our ERT (Early Response Team) did down in North Fort Myers a few weeks ago, helping to rebuild a house damaged by last year\u2019s Hurricane Ida. This would have been a follow up to my previous blog #150: \u201cReturn to the Aftermath.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a big difference between \u201cmucking & gutting\u201d (last year\u2019s response, 10 days after<\/em> Hurricane Ida) and \u201clong-term recovery\u201d (this year\u2019s response, 9 months later<\/em>). But the need was still there, and we were happy to help a grateful homeowner get a little further along in her recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that 3-day trip, another hurricane formed in the Atlantic and was heading our way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the ERT team at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville, I volunteered with a few others to help equip the ERT trailer, getting it ready for deployment. Even though we had an initial list of recommended equipment and gear, we also had a fixed budget. It took a little time to sort out and prioritized before shopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there was shelving to be built, bins & boxes to hold the equipment, and finally, storing and organizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long story short, the Trinity UMC ERT team was ready to go for this most recent hurricane, Idalia. Just in time, I might add. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Becky and I had signed up to go for a one-day trip, \u201cmuck & gut.\u201d Cedar Key was our church ERT’s initial assignment. Three days after the hurricane, the first team of six volunteers deployed on Saturday. The next day, another team returned to the same location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In times like this, there\u2019s so much damage in so many places, you can\u2019t do it all, even though you may want to. So, the volunteer organizations work their magic at the high levels, triage, and assign homes to the various volunteers. And let me tell you, there are literally thousands of volunteers out there, dedicating their time and efforts to help families through unarguably the most traumatic time in their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Becky & I did not deploy. We were scheduled to go on day three (Monday), but the director called and said they\u2019d done all they could for the time being for their initial assignment, that their mission was complete. But not to worry\u2026 there will be more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, last Wednesday, our daughter in Cleveland called. She was in the hospital, about to deliver a baby 4 weeks early. We were packed and on the road (including getting the house \u201cready\u201d for another potential hurricane) in less than an hour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her due date was originally October 6. But due to potential complications, she was re-scheduled to deliver on Sep 15 (Friday). However, the baby had other plans and was ready to make his grand entrance sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our third grandson (their first child) was born at 4pm on Sep 6. A healthy 7 pounds 2 ounces baby boy, named Rufus, after Becky\u2019s father. I\u2019m glad Becky was driving when we got the text with a few photos of our new grandson right after delivery. I sorta\u2026 lost it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T.I.M.E.\u2014\u201cTears in my eyes.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re up in Cleveland this week. Baby Rufus and parents came home from the hospital on Saturday. Everyone is healthy and happy, albeit a little low on sleep. We\u2019re all getting settled in, new routines, and what not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, on top of all that\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last Christmas, while our daughter & hubby were visiting his parents in Canada, Cleveland experienced a sudden drop in temperature\u2026 freezing temps. Enough that hundreds of homes and businesses had frozen and burst pipes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their house was one of those.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you do when the pipe bursts in the 3rd floor bathroom and water spurts out for several hours, affecting all three floors, including the basement? And you\u2019re a four-hour drive away in another country?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A neighbor had called them to let them know of the drip. They\u2019d just sat down to Christmas dinner. Instead, they got on the road and tried<\/em> to make it back home\u2014normally, a 4-hour drive. However, Buffalo bridges were essentially closed because of the freeze, so they had to turn back (thankfully) and try again Christmas Day plus one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We learned later that their cat sitter and several neighbors spent Christmas Day mopping up the floors, picking up anything and everything off the floors to save precious items. Our daughter had mentioned several times why she liked the Midwest\u2026 that kindness is one reason. The next day, daughter and hubby drove back, but this time took the northern route\u2014a longer drive. But they made it home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ceilings collapsed, couches & beds soaked in water, wooden floors creaked\u2026 similar to what our ERT team faced during hurricane \u201cmuck & gut.\u201d A lot of damage, but other than the first night, they have been able to live & function (somewhat) in their home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, they found a great contractor and long story short. He & his team finished the \u201crebuild\u201d the day we arrived last week from Gainesville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, besides helping however we can with new baby, mommy and daddy, our task at hand is to help \u201cput the house back in order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine having all your living room & dining room furniture (minus couches & chairs that were too badly damaged by water) crammed into your dining room. And that\u2019s just the first floor. Two more floors, plus the basement. And now… a new baby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we\u2019re here, our mission is to help move all the furniture and fixtures back to where they belong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no rest for the retired folks. Not today. And you know what? All that doesn\u2019t matter, because being a new granddad, well\u2026 there\u2019s nothing like it.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Until we meet again,
Andy Adkins<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andy Adkins<\/strong> is a US Navy veteran (\u201973-77) and the author of several books, including You Can\u2019t Get Much Closer Than This-Combat with the 80th \u201cBlue Ridge\u201d Division in World War II Europe<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, published by Casemate Publishers (2005) and selected as the Book of the Month for the Military Book Club. His newest novel, NEVER FORGET<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, is the story of A Vietnam Veteran\u2019s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness<\/em>; NEVER FORGET<\/strong> is offered as a FREE (PDF, eBook format) download. Adkins also writes a weekly blog, \u201cA Veteran\u2019s Journey.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the midst of all the chaos around my life right now, I\u2019m taking a few quiet moments to remember 9\/11. 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