[DianeM]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I hear you. That day was a tragedy for all of America, but for those of us from the NYC area it impacted us in a way that non-New Yorkers can't understand.

I was taking a break in the physicians lounge and someone said turn on the TV, a plane hit the towers. I remember looking at the first tower burning and thinking that it didn't look like a small plane, but couldn't imagine a commercial airliner getting that far off course. Then I saw the second tower hit in real time and my heart sank as it was instantly clear this was intentional. Then the pentagon, and the uncertainty of where flight 93 was headed.

I graduated from a small high school with 99 in my class, everyone knew each other, two of them died that day, One a trader for Cantor Fitzgerald and the other a NYC firefighter. My son was in the air from Phoenix to Boston over Indiana when the order to ground all flights came. My brother would do business at the WTC once a week and my nephew worked nearby---all phone circuits were busy and there was no way to check on them. One of our bridesmaid's father worked in the #7 building, and was almost hit by a jumper as they evacuated the building, he was never the same again. When I was in school, my roommate's friend was a trader on the commodities floor, I even got to wear a smock and badge and stand right in the middle of the action one time, and had dinner at Windows on the World several times. Fortunately, that trader was still on the train headed to work. My friend Mark had just married an executive with Quantas, and was going to accompany her to a conference in LA, from their home in Boston. At the last minute she told him the schedule changed and she would be in meetings 10 hours a day, so why doesn't he drop me off at Logan and then drive to Auburn to see his niece. He was halfway down the Mass Pike when the radio announced what happened and the flight number. You could find him every night in the last seat at the bar at our country club.

Twenty years later, and it is still hard to recount this story. I hope this epidemic doesn't have the same effect on people as 9/11.

I was blessed not to have lost anyone I knew that day. It was a spectacularly beautiful late summer/early autumn day. Far too beautiful for people to lose their lives. My friend Jack lived in New Jersey and had an argument with his wife over taking out the trash. He missed his train while taking it out. Best argument ever!

I know I cannot easily speak about that day. I break down pretty much every time. I hope, as you, that people are not affected the same way because of the virus.

[skip0358]

We use the pool sometimes very rare, don't golf, tried pickleball blew out my knee so that's done,no baseball. Hang with friends( which we miss most). Eat out a least once a week yard work, crafts and Parrothead Club & Blood Drives. Everything we might want to do is here and we can & do use them when we want. We don't need a schedule telling when to be where. The phone rings and we meet whomever wherever they might be going. Very happy with our routine, our cost of living and what's available IF we choose to do something.

[600th Photo Sq]

Originally Posted by sipops

Unfortunately New York City never returned to the pre 911 ways. When this is over people will probably not shake hands with each other. Social distancing will be the new normal.

I have already started by greeting people with my right hand raised, palm facing towards the person(s) and saying " How " , sometimes " Hey " just for a change.

So far I have not gotten a reply just a very slight smile, but will continue trying.

[LiverpoolWalrus]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Line dancing to Led Zeppelin is a massive offense on a visceral level...line dancing to line dance music doesn't bother me AT ALL and in fact I am one of the first ones to jump up and dance to the Electric Slide.

ANY dancing is better than no dancing. And many of us got an early start: Keep on Dancing - The Gentrys - YouTube

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Number 10 GI

I agree, if you don't know how many people had the virus the number of deaths may be in line with the usual viruses that afflict us.

Yes, but, we don’t count the number of people with regular flu who aren’t medically identified someway either. So I would think that the identified coronavirus cases are comparable to the identified flu cases. We don’t know who had either one who is not identified somehow so our guess to what the “real” number is in either case is truly just a guess.

[LiverpoolWalrus]

That sounds right, so a better metric might be per capita hospitalizations and deaths. Could result in a more meaningful comparison.