9/11

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 23^rd 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.