MOMENT’S OVER

September 11, 2015


At noon today we paused for a minute of silence to reflect on the events which happened 14 years ago.

Before leaving 103 Valley View, my contact in the cruise director’s office called me and asked me if I would lead a 9/11 memorial service on board.  I was honored, and of course, said, “Yes.”  I prepared a 20 minute program which included photos and musical moments – “God Bless America,” “America,” and “The Star Spangled Banner.”  A message was waiting for me in our stateroom that the powers that be had changed their minds (was there something wrong with the ones they had?) and would just do a brief pause.  I told Angel I had prepared a program.  She asked for it on a flash drive, showed it to the cruise director who liked it, but said the company had decided to go with the moment of silence.

During my second talk today (yes, I did two today, and will do two again on the last sea day) I was talking about an explosion that leveled Halifax in 1917, killing 2,000 and injuring 9,000.  One of the heroes was a telegraph operator who stayed at his post, and was killed in the explosion.  Another was a navy man who tried to pull the threatened ship away from the docks and died in the explosion.  I stopped and remarked that I had finished this talk back in May, and had no idea I would give it on September 11.  I remarked about the “heroes” of that day – the firemen, the policemen, the EMTs, the soldiers – who ran into harms way to help others, and asked anyone who had served or was serving in those positions where they willingly risked themselves to protect us to stand.  They received a well-deserved round of applause.

Bonnie said there were about 350 people at the first talk, 250 at the second (I was up against an ice show for the second talk, and blame no one for checking out that spectacular production).

We have early seating for supper and share a table for 6 with 4 ladies – two sets of friends cruising together.  Two are retired school teachers.  Two are single mothers.  Lively and enjoyable bunch.  Shirley, Linda, Carol, and Anna – C&A are on their first cruise; S&L are old hands.

We are taking a tour of Maine Lighthouses tomorrow morning, and then are meeting two friends from one of last year’s cruises.  Danielle and Jess are driving a couple hours to share lunch with us and hang out for a time.  We are looking forward to that.

Well, it’s bedtime.  Up early for breakfast and off into Portland.

TTFN!