Since large hurricanes such as Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey which both hit the Southeast Gulf Coast, Irma hit recently Florida and Harvey hit Texas no less than a few weeks ago. One weather note: global warming has nothing to do with with real active hurricane seasons.I suspect that climate change rabble doesn't have nothing to do with large Typhoons in the Pacific either.
I've been tracking hurricanes in the Atlantic off Africa since college,during my thirty years I learned alot about hurricanes. Mind you no matter how large a small a hurricane is,a storm like like this wrecks lives,homes,disrupts communities. Uproot residents from thier homes. Just a reminder.
Hurricane Katrina I did experince. I went to work that Monday morning and already she came ashore somewhere along the Ms/La coasts. Up here in Vicksburg,Ms it didn't escape the storm's wrath. Power went out and rain real hard. I swore I saw a twister spinning some trees. Trees were already diwn all over the place. One image that stands out in my mind: a large oak tree in our pasture was uprooted by strong winds and layed on its side. Around the house of we were safe. No tornados just wind and rain. When Katrina cleared out the following mornng was clear and hot. But around 7am I got up went outside and to see what damage was done. The only damage done was our old television tower was pulled and uprooted by the wind. Since we had satellite as a replacement we just needed power to get it working. When a strong Cat3 hurricane comes ashore especially a large one like this one one would expect damage everywhere. But in someplaces the damage wasn't as much as you think.
Now the real damage done by Katrina had been on the Gulf Coast. Houses swept away from the storm surge which batter the Ms Coast and New Orleans flooded. Now I fault the dumb news media national for not covering the Ms coast. They miss a story where everyone was helping each other out instead on focusing on New Orleans too much. But New Orleaans was unprepared for such a hurricane like Katrina. Now since Irma and Harvey came ashore as Cat4 storms could New Orleans withstand a strong Cat4 or Cat5?
Since Katrina I went down to the Ms Coast on vacation for my first time. I visted the Hurricane Katrina/Camille Muesum in Long Beach. Like the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan the curators had gathered every scrap of history on the storms. It even had a marker within the muesum on how high the storm sturges were. So if you ever a tourist in the gulf coast part of the state I strongley reccomend it. U would get a better understanding of the hurricane there. If New Orleans has a hurricane katrina museum I would visit it too.
One more note: when I drove along the coast in the various small towns where Katrina you can still see her marks.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Monday, September 11, 2017
A Reunion With a View
One world Restraunt.One World Observatory
Lower Manhattan, NYC Monday Sept 11.
A beautiful September Monday afternoon,clear blue as far as the eye can see.
As I enter into One World Restraunt it's a busy New York day and as I glance around the glass tables a familiar figure waves her hand. It's Alana Constantine,present DA of New York Count and one hell of a tough prosecutor. I immediately head to the table and take a seat. I ask, "You got his phone call too?"
"Yes,Praetor called me too," Alana declares.
"Any idea why he wants to talk about? Has to be related to September 11th." I remark as I drink my water.
Alana inquires "When was the last time you saw and talk to Praetor?"
"Iraq. Fujullah when during the Iraq war and again by chance in Dubai."
"I see." I glance around the restraint,not to crowded I note. A waiter brings us four menus.
"Why an extra two?" I ask.
"Praet has his Senior Warrant Officer present at all times. Perk with his job," Alana declares with a slight annoyance in her voice.
Minutes later I recogonize them the minute they enter. Praetor Lorenzo and his SWO Arina Smirnova.a sharp dressed Russian with eyes like a hawk. I watch her behavior: as she stand her eyes sweep restraint back and forth for anything threatening. One thing about Arina she's a quick draw with her Glock as is Praetor. She whispers in Praetor's ear: "All clear."
Alana nor I didn't have to raise our hands to signal them for Arina Smirnova new where we're sitting and they approach out table. Seconds later they take their seats Praetor and Alana exchanges big hugs as old friends do; then Praetor and I handshakes. His handshake is firm and strong. "You're in good spirits." He remarks.
"I try," I quip.
"What this meeting all about?" Alana asks.
"How well do you recall my late fiancé Merina? Either one of you," Praetor states with strong emphasis in his voice.
Alana and I give his question deep thought as Arina Smirnova stares at us both. Merina. Yes, I recall him going into detail about her the love of his life which he lost on Tuesday September 11th sixteen years ago. "I remember that you and Merina kisse and made up in Central Park in December 2000. You two had a big spat and didn't speak for days.Weeks."
"Make that a month," Alana adds with a smile. "She gave him hell from what his sister Wendy told me at the time."
Arina Smirnova chuckles.
"Funny to you isn't comrade," I shoot back at Smirnova. "Your boss lost his fiancé and his sister while they were working at Cantor Fitzgerald. Merina nor Wendy couldn't escape from the trade center and they didn't jump. It's documented in my files."
Alana grins. "He told you off Comrade Smirnova."
Praetor takes command. "You made your point. Want to know more?"
"Does this involve you and Merina?" I ask relax as I drink my goblet of ice water.
"It does but let's discuss it after a light dinner and desert." He declares.
"I have all day," Alana and I respond in unison.
After light dinner,desert and over small glass of red wine, Praetor tells his story. Parts of their story I already knew his sister Wendy Lorenzo fix them up together sometime in the late 90s. Wendy work as a computer programmer at Camper Fritzgerald and Merina had been the brilliant stockbroker a quick up and comer in the Financial Markets and she was one of those who love her job. I didn't think Preator Lorenzo needed matchmaking to be honest with you. He's his own man and often does thing his way. As for Merina? She's a different story all together, one minute a party girl in the Hamptons and a serious stockbroker who can call markets like the best financial pundits. She even turn down a job at Fox News,Bloomberg and CNBC. But that the person she was. Of course I never met her.
On the day the planes struck the North and South Tower of the World Trade Center she lost her life as did Wendy. In the process of cleanup of Ground Zero, Praetor's sister body had been found but not Merina's. For years this left a deep hole in his heart but it's a story I'm familiar with: there are still those never recovered and for some it's hard to move on. Some I can tell you have move away from New York City because of those losses but not all.
Praetor had been in that same boat. I don't use that term lightly either.
"Merina had our wedding planned to the last detail," Praetor adds without hesitation.
"Where were you two going to be married?" Alana asks.
"A beach in Key West," Praetor responds. "We were going to use my condo for the reception."
"The same condo Hurricane Irma flooded?" Alana adds unexpectly.
"The one and the same," Praetor declares with a sigh.
As the afternoon conintue into early evening I let Praetor continue about Merina and their plan nupitials in Key West and their plan Caribbean honeymoon. No,this September 11th is about life not about death. Though Merina wasn't found her name is read along with those who were lost and never returned on that eventful beautiful Tuseday in September 2001.
note this is a work of fiction. Drawn from my manuscsript 9/11/01.
Lower Manhattan, NYC Monday Sept 11.
A beautiful September Monday afternoon,clear blue as far as the eye can see.
As I enter into One World Restraunt it's a busy New York day and as I glance around the glass tables a familiar figure waves her hand. It's Alana Constantine,present DA of New York Count and one hell of a tough prosecutor. I immediately head to the table and take a seat. I ask, "You got his phone call too?"
"Yes,Praetor called me too," Alana declares.
"Any idea why he wants to talk about? Has to be related to September 11th." I remark as I drink my water.
Alana inquires "When was the last time you saw and talk to Praetor?"
"Iraq. Fujullah when during the Iraq war and again by chance in Dubai."
"I see." I glance around the restraint,not to crowded I note. A waiter brings us four menus.
"Why an extra two?" I ask.
"Praet has his Senior Warrant Officer present at all times. Perk with his job," Alana declares with a slight annoyance in her voice.
Minutes later I recogonize them the minute they enter. Praetor Lorenzo and his SWO Arina Smirnova.a sharp dressed Russian with eyes like a hawk. I watch her behavior: as she stand her eyes sweep restraint back and forth for anything threatening. One thing about Arina she's a quick draw with her Glock as is Praetor. She whispers in Praetor's ear: "All clear."
Alana nor I didn't have to raise our hands to signal them for Arina Smirnova new where we're sitting and they approach out table. Seconds later they take their seats Praetor and Alana exchanges big hugs as old friends do; then Praetor and I handshakes. His handshake is firm and strong. "You're in good spirits." He remarks.
"I try," I quip.
"What this meeting all about?" Alana asks.
"How well do you recall my late fiancé Merina? Either one of you," Praetor states with strong emphasis in his voice.
Alana and I give his question deep thought as Arina Smirnova stares at us both. Merina. Yes, I recall him going into detail about her the love of his life which he lost on Tuesday September 11th sixteen years ago. "I remember that you and Merina kisse and made up in Central Park in December 2000. You two had a big spat and didn't speak for days.Weeks."
"Make that a month," Alana adds with a smile. "She gave him hell from what his sister Wendy told me at the time."
Arina Smirnova chuckles.
"Funny to you isn't comrade," I shoot back at Smirnova. "Your boss lost his fiancé and his sister while they were working at Cantor Fitzgerald. Merina nor Wendy couldn't escape from the trade center and they didn't jump. It's documented in my files."
Alana grins. "He told you off Comrade Smirnova."
Praetor takes command. "You made your point. Want to know more?"
"Does this involve you and Merina?" I ask relax as I drink my goblet of ice water.
"It does but let's discuss it after a light dinner and desert." He declares.
"I have all day," Alana and I respond in unison.
After light dinner,desert and over small glass of red wine, Praetor tells his story. Parts of their story I already knew his sister Wendy Lorenzo fix them up together sometime in the late 90s. Wendy work as a computer programmer at Camper Fritzgerald and Merina had been the brilliant stockbroker a quick up and comer in the Financial Markets and she was one of those who love her job. I didn't think Preator Lorenzo needed matchmaking to be honest with you. He's his own man and often does thing his way. As for Merina? She's a different story all together, one minute a party girl in the Hamptons and a serious stockbroker who can call markets like the best financial pundits. She even turn down a job at Fox News,Bloomberg and CNBC. But that the person she was. Of course I never met her.
On the day the planes struck the North and South Tower of the World Trade Center she lost her life as did Wendy. In the process of cleanup of Ground Zero, Praetor's sister body had been found but not Merina's. For years this left a deep hole in his heart but it's a story I'm familiar with: there are still those never recovered and for some it's hard to move on. Some I can tell you have move away from New York City because of those losses but not all.
Praetor had been in that same boat. I don't use that term lightly either.
"Merina had our wedding planned to the last detail," Praetor adds without hesitation.
"Where were you two going to be married?" Alana asks.
"A beach in Key West," Praetor responds. "We were going to use my condo for the reception."
"The same condo Hurricane Irma flooded?" Alana adds unexpectly.
"The one and the same," Praetor declares with a sigh.
As the afternoon conintue into early evening I let Praetor continue about Merina and their plan nupitials in Key West and their plan Caribbean honeymoon. No,this September 11th is about life not about death. Though Merina wasn't found her name is read along with those who were lost and never returned on that eventful beautiful Tuseday in September 2001.
note this is a work of fiction. Drawn from my manuscsript 9/11/01.
The Tower Nightmares
Sometime Post 9/11.
Frist for a New Year's Resolution I didn't look at my varions 9/11 photobooks which I accumulated. I have one published from the New York Times and another put out by Reuters News Service. I browse through them but never look at the photos for a long time. For the tradgedy at that was fresh in my mind as it is this morning.
Sometime in post 9/11 I had the nightmares. Mind you they weren't night terrors but vivid nightmares. The dreams surrounded the two towers of the World Trade Center. One dream I recall which woke me at 1am in the morning the towers on fire smoke shooting out blocking the blue sky of the Manhattan skyline. I woke up a bit shaken. Second most vivid dream was like a time loop: the second plane rams the second tower. The dream repeated itself over and over with such intensity I couldn't sleep. The Tower Nightmares which I believe as they should be called now proved something I had been traumatized. Though my PTSD was slight compare to those who were closer to Ground Zero I believe those New Yorkers their nightmares are move visceral than mind and more emotional. At the end of the year 2001 I did cry over what happen and the release of tears well felt better.
The dreams of the world trade center revealed something. No matter how far you are from a tragic event such as this where lives are lost, it affects you one way or the other. Ironcially when Hurricane Katrina came through in 05 I didn't have nightmares about hurricanes.
Strange.
What broke the nightmare cycle:an unexpected positive dream. I was flying above the streets of the lighted skyscreapers of Manhattan. All the skyscapers were lighted in their glorious and I was flying like Superman. Then I saw the two towers in their glory lighted up and I woke up. I woke up at the sametime 1am. I went back to sleep with a better feeling.
The weeks,the nights that followed the nightmares of 9/11 disappeared.
Still I'm a 9/11 historian and I hope to add a new book to the collection about ghost sightings at the World Trade Center. Yes, ghosts and 9/11 ghost stories and encounters should be told too.
Frist for a New Year's Resolution I didn't look at my varions 9/11 photobooks which I accumulated. I have one published from the New York Times and another put out by Reuters News Service. I browse through them but never look at the photos for a long time. For the tradgedy at that was fresh in my mind as it is this morning.
Sometime in post 9/11 I had the nightmares. Mind you they weren't night terrors but vivid nightmares. The dreams surrounded the two towers of the World Trade Center. One dream I recall which woke me at 1am in the morning the towers on fire smoke shooting out blocking the blue sky of the Manhattan skyline. I woke up a bit shaken. Second most vivid dream was like a time loop: the second plane rams the second tower. The dream repeated itself over and over with such intensity I couldn't sleep. The Tower Nightmares which I believe as they should be called now proved something I had been traumatized. Though my PTSD was slight compare to those who were closer to Ground Zero I believe those New Yorkers their nightmares are move visceral than mind and more emotional. At the end of the year 2001 I did cry over what happen and the release of tears well felt better.
The dreams of the world trade center revealed something. No matter how far you are from a tragic event such as this where lives are lost, it affects you one way or the other. Ironcially when Hurricane Katrina came through in 05 I didn't have nightmares about hurricanes.
Strange.
What broke the nightmare cycle:an unexpected positive dream. I was flying above the streets of the lighted skyscreapers of Manhattan. All the skyscapers were lighted in their glorious and I was flying like Superman. Then I saw the two towers in their glory lighted up and I woke up. I woke up at the sametime 1am. I went back to sleep with a better feeling.
The weeks,the nights that followed the nightmares of 9/11 disappeared.
Still I'm a 9/11 historian and I hope to add a new book to the collection about ghost sightings at the World Trade Center. Yes, ghosts and 9/11 ghost stories and encounters should be told too.
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