A strong memory came back as i was listening to Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot tonight. Back in May of 2002 I was chosen by Carnival Cruise Line to,give a presentation on a sales technique I used at the travel agency at a conference in Vancouver, Canada.
While I was there I had the opportunity to take a side trip to Victoria. I took the three hour bus and ferry trip from downtown Vancouver to the center of town inVictoria. It was a very interesting trip but on the return I took a float plane back to Vancouver. That trip,took about twenty minutes.
I had about three hours to explore Victoria and spent time walking around the city and taking a water taxi tour of the Victorian Harbor. I even walked into the Empress Hotel and bought a jacket I still wear to this day.
My last stop of the day was at an ice cream shop a little before my float plane flight back to Vancouver. As I was purchasing my ice cream cone the shop owner asked me where I was from. I,told him New York. When he heard this he stopped what. He was doing, literally closed the store and asked me if,I had been at home on 9/11?
I told him about my experience that day and that I only lived about 15 miles from ground zero. He was very curious to hear my entire experience. And my experience is not that compelling, really just the story of a typical New Yorker.
But the telling of my experience that day back in 2002 caused me to relive the event.
I think this memory popped into my head tonight because of what we’re going through today, the caronavirus pandemic. This is,turning out to be much more traumatic than9/11 because it effects the whole country and the whole world. The death is,unimaginable and the overall fear is debilitating. But t will end,as we got through 9/11 but it’s going to take Ed forward some time.
