The March of Time

In anniversary terms, the 18th is no big deal. The traditional gift associated with it – yawn – is porcelain. No, it’s just not a biggie.

The first is a biggie. Then 5th, 10th, 20th, 25th, 50th…The further out something gets, the wider the interval of interest. 25th anniversary: BIG ONE. 35th? Meh…Hang on until the 50th, why don’t you.

So, when it comes to observing 9/11 or not, the 18th will pass by with little notice. Oh, the news stations will mention it. I’m sure there’ll be something in NYC to commemorate the terrible event. Trump will likely tweet something about all the funerals he attended not!), the Muslims he saw dancing for joy on the roofs of New Jersey (not!), how one of this buildings became the tallest in NY once the twin towers collapsed (true dat, I think: even a broken clock is right twice a day). Whatever he says, the betting is that Trump’s 9/11 tweet will have DJT at its center.

In Boston, there will probably be a ceremony over at the memorial in the Public Garden which was set up to honor the locals killed on that day: those on American Flight 11 or otherwise caught up in the maelstrom. There’s even a first-responder named, a local fellow who somehow ended up a member of the NYFD.

I walk most days in the Public Garden, so I’ll walk by the memorial at some point today.

I don’t have any direct connection to anyone who died on 9/11. A couple of know-someone-who-knew-someone things, but that’s it. Two guys from the company I was working for were killed. I knew a few witnesses who were working nearby that day. The next day, on a train coming up from Florida, I saw the black cloud over Manhattan as we came out of Newark. Noisy car became a quiet car.

Wherever you were, if you’re old enough, 9/11 is one of those days you remember, even after 18 years.

Seems like only yesterday. After all, time does seem to go a lot faster as you get older – and there’s even some science to back this up.

I’ve been at this (blogging) for a long time, and have done a number of 9/11 posts.

Here’s one from a couple of years back, Blink of an Eye.

Man, do those blinks of the eye come on faster and faster and faster.