Day 4644 - 9/11

Has it really been 21 years since the towers fell? It seems like yesterday. I was sitting at the same kitchen table and heating up my breakfast in the same microwave I used this morning when I heard the news on TV. I spent the rest of the day mesmerized by what was unfolding. Could this even be happening? I had ridden the elevator to the top of the South Tower several times and The World Trade Center was a familiar sight when I went to New York on business. The world definitely changed that day and it did not change for the better.

Things may seem normal now, but I think we've just gotten used to all the changes. We are all more suspicious now. I don't remember going through security checkpoints when I used to fly to New York. You just went to the airport and got on a plane. You could even use your ticket to fly on a different airline if you found something that was more convenient. Hotels were much more affordable and I felt safe riding on the subway. Sadly, all that is gone.

When I go to the mall before the stores open on Sunday, a policeman opens the door for me and asks what I am doing. We almost always see police riding the trails on bicycles when we take Dawn on her sunrise walks. Most people in the neighborhood have security cameras now. I've grown to appreciate the added security although it doesn't really make me feel safe. 9/11 put an end to innocence and trust. I'm suspicious of everything these days. If the twin towers can fall while you are sitting at the kitchen table eating pancakes, what else can go wrong?

Luckily, nothing went wrong today. We had a pleasant sunrise walk with Dawn, followed by an equally pleasant breakfast. I went mall walking again and am slowly memorizing the names of the artists on display as well as the contents of the store windows. The mall is filled with things that nobody really needs. The objects on display all seem desirable though. I like looking at window displays. It beats watching squirrels chase each other in the park. 

The temperature was still cool when we took Dawn on her Sunday outing, so we went on a real walk instead of just letting Dawn out of the car to pee. Dawn enjoyed the walk, although I was lagging behind by the time we returned to the car. I guess I had an excuse. I'd already finished walking around the mall five times. On our way to get ice cream we stopped at the neighborhood Chinese restaurant to see what was going on. There was a sign on the door saying that the restaurant was closed due to an inability to find staff. This was sad. The young owners of this place had really put a lot of effort into making the restaurant successful. At least the ice cream store seems to be doing well. There is always a line at the drive through window when we go to get our cones.

When I was getting up this morning I found a tiny snake on our living room floor. How did a snake get in our house? The snake seemed harmless and I took it outdoors, but it was still unsettling to find a snake in your house. I found a very small lizard in the shower last week. I hope this isn't a trend. The ants are bad enough. I definitely don't want to be dealing with reptiles.

After the kennel change we no longer visit the Dalmatians on Monday. The dogs are doing well though. I don't know what's I'll do with the extra time. I guess I'll just go to the gym.

Shadow is today's Dalmatian of the Day

Watch of the Day