Nine/Eleven
Posted: Saturday, September 10, 2011
by Patricia Barbee
http://www.patriciabarbee.com
The six weeks before that awful morning, I'd been busier than an octopus in a clam bed.
For years I'd been doing volunteer work for a number of groups and agencies. I'm sure I worked harder for them, than I would on a nine-to-five job. Yes, no pay and no breaks.
We also helped with outlining Living Wills; Last Wills and Testaments; and tax information, local and State. Our work was made "legal" by attorneys in good standing with the State.
My local Catholic Church let us take over the Social Hall for work anytime except when a Mass was in progress or an event planned. I had two partners in our work.
Other groups would give us useful messages and pamphlets to distribute. I was contacted to put together the first Relay for Life. And yes, the three of us did it!
At least once a year all the groups in the area overseeing my AoA group would gather at the seashore for a meeting with speakers. Ironic, the local Congressman was the speaker and told us our work for AoA was worth a minimum of ten dollars an hour, in-kind.
At that gathering, all learned that I'd been named the Volunteer of the Year for our
State and had already been feted at a Federal Regional Meeting in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
In that gathering was the Region VIII Volunteer that covered eight states. Heck, I knew it was me from July. The build up to announcing my name was wonderful. All knew, I'd be honored in September at the Hart Office Building in Washington, DC.
Yes, it was me. The applause was thundering except for a few. That was their problem.
The local CBS affiliate had known for weeks of my honors and wanted to follow me for a day to see what I did. They knew of the big announcement of Washington, DC Honors would be made on 10 September at the shore. On 11 September the news team would be with me. The elongated news feature was scheduled to be cut and edited for Friday, 14 September.
"9/11" my television was on. I was trying to fix a bite to eat, get dressed, check e-mails and be on time for the news reporter and cameraperson. They knew they had a long day to keep up with me.
By nine a.m. our world had changed. My telephone began to ring. CBS was on the
line. The news team were on their way to meet me but because of the breaking New York City news could not follow me all day. Could I rush and meet them early and we'd stage my activities?
With a few calls I arranged all the news team needed with the help of the wonderful Mayor of the town. She'd always been a backer of the good work we did to make life easier for the aging population of the community.
Never did I figure two people close to my heart would have any connection to the Twin Towers. Michele did not feel well and her doctor asked her to stop in on her way to work. She was with her doctor and was clueless for some time. Her Mom was about to have a cardiac arrest thousands of miles away. Michele had turned off her cell phone in the doctor's office.
Andrew and his entire family have been a part of my heart most of my life. We'd live as neighbors and visit as friends. We'd move again and still visit. We'll never be apart as long as there are telephones, e-mails and I-95 runs North and South.
Andrew was one of the top fireman-EMTs in Connecticut. His unit was ordered to the falling Twin Towers in New York City and all obeyed.
As I type this Andrew, OUR Hero is in a North Carolina hospital. He and family had to move to NC to insure his specialized health care. A number of hospitals in that State are on the "cutting edge" of miracle medicines and cures.
Andrew's spirit and determination are stronger than his body. He developed many problems and four days ago had to lose his right leg. No more could be done for the leg. We'll never know what Andrew saw, heard or smelled, inhaled that day at "Ground Zero".
We can never forget those who perished at the Pentagon and those on the Flight 93 that would die before terrorists completed their plans.
If only we had another word for those who did their best besides, "HERO".
Andrew told me last evening that as soon as the Rehab lets him out, he and his lovely Bride will be visiting me. They are great company. I look forward to their next visit.
An aside: It does not matter how much volunteer work one does for our Country under a Federal Agency's aegis, the volunteer is not appreciated in the long run.
When I got old enough to get my first advisory of anticipation of Social Security the value was about what I expected.
The reason, I did volunteer work, an already suspended drunk driver driving an auto, not his with no insurance smashed me and tore me up on the right side. He never got a ticket! So a regular job for which I hold many certificates and licenses was out of the question.
With the Congressman telling us of our value to the Agency on Aging, one would think, our Social Security rates would at least be frozen because we are not being paid. No way. When it was time for my Social Security to begin it was cut in half!
So how are those who were not made "millionaires" when the Twin Towers fell supposed to live in the New York area? Welfare, Medicaid or early Medicare? [A Congressperson's base salary is $14,500 a month.]
God Bless America and all who live in this fiscally out of control society.
May the memories of all who died and are still dying from that horrible day never beforgotten.
Patricia Barbee
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