Today is the seventh anniversary of the attacks on
September 11, 2001. We had a Liquidator (specialist for
completion of paper processing) at work named America,
and I remember how upset she was when our Port Director
waited several hours before sending us home. America
stormed out before we got authorization. I think we finally
were let go when it was reported that the Transamerica
Pyramid was a potential target and was only two blocks
away from our building. That apparent paralysis was similar
to the response after JFK’s assassination, when my Junior
High School principal waited an equally long time before
allowing us to leave. I remember how my Dad picked me
up in his car when I was half way home. There were no cell
phones, of course, so there had been no coordination
between us. He just wanted to find me.
On 9/11 Dennis had been called at home not to go into
work at Lang’s Estate Jewelry. The first thing he did when I
got home from Customs was to go to Sam’s, our Jordanian-
American corner grocer at 23rd St and Valencia. Dennis
wanted to let Sam know that we didn’t blame all people
of Islamic faith. Then Dennis felt compelled to go grocery
shopping. He wanted a free-range chicken and fresh produce.
Then of all things, Dennis and I went looking for a new
refrigerator.
But remember, while Dennis was working full time,
we seldom had a day off together except for holidays.
He worked Saturdays, and I was busy with church choirs
almost all day Sundays. Dennis was diligent to arrange
his various medical appointments on his regularly scheduled
days off, usually Thursdays. As sick as he was the last few
years, he took very little time off work. That’s another reason
he was bitterly resentful when he was let go from Lang’s
after their robbery on Sutter Street. (That’s quite a story for
another time). He probably had a better attendance record
than all the other employees!
As it turned out, being let go was a real blessing.
It gave us almost three years with the most time
we had ever had together. It also allowed Dennis
to be in Iowa frequently for his Dad, Walt, and later
to settle his Dad’s estate.
As we commemorate the horrible and tragic events of
seven years ago --that changed our country forever--
it’s curious that one of my memories of that day was
the purchase of a new refrigerator. Of course, like the
assassination of President Kennedy, 9/11 was an event
that people who experienced it will remember for a
lifetime-- where they were and what they did.