Countdown to Triathlon - 253 Days,36.2 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 24 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -

 There has been only one Christmas -  

 the rest are anniversaries. 

 ~W.J. Camero

We're really into the Christmas Season now.   It's fun to see all the decorations lit on the homes and hear the carrollon playing Christmas music from the top of a nearby church.  It's great living in a small town.  Last night, the firetruck came down the street in it's annual drive around the town with it's sirens blaring. Santa was riding on the back shouting, "Ho, Ho, Ho!"  and firemen, walking and riding threw candy out to any kids who came out of their homes to stand on the side walk.   But lest we forget, the above picture is the reason for the season.  Tonight will be the last post until next Thursday morning.  We'll be somewhere where there is no cell phone or Internet.  Be sure to come back then.    

The Journey - Installment Twenty-Four

(Barb's writing below)

                                                      



From the point of view of the spectators, everywhere you went in NYC that weekend, you saw American flags flying, people wearing either flag shirts or shirts with the insignia shown below:

                                                                 I



 NY



                                                                               

   

I certainly do hope that the lady in the picture doesn't accidentally stumble upon this blog and sue me for putting  her picture on without permission.  Heaven only knows who she is.  But notice her shirt.



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                   We also saw shirts, hats, hand bags, sweatshirts and all kinds of apparel that said, FDNY or NYPD. Many street corners had vendors selling T-shirts and I bought Bob two, each representing the fire department or police department.  We found the New Yorkers to be friendly and kind.  Not at all pushy or like I pictured them after watching many Hollywood movies. And we all know how true to life movies are, don't we?   The worst movie that comes to mind is Death Wish starring Charles Bronson.  It portrayed the streets of New York as really scary and dangerous, even in daylight.  Of course, we weren’t out walking alone in bad areas at night, but the mood of the city was one of camaraderie and concern for others, especially after the tragedy which had occurred there just seven and a half weeks before.  We were told on several occasions by local residents that Mayor Giuliani had really cleaned up crime in the city since he had been in office. 

               While Cindy was running, Patti and I met Bob’s cousin Marilyn and her daughter Lynda for a leisurely breakfast  at a bagel shop. Patti and I knew how fast Cindy ran and we knew how far it was to different points of the race so we thought we had plenty of time before taking the subway to Brooklyn/Bronx. Remember, I can’t remember which place it was.  We figured we had time for breakfast and even a short subway ride to Macy’s at Herald Square.  Cousin Marilyn was visiting from California and staying with her daughter Lynda.  While at breakfast, I asked Lynda about her experiences on September 11th.  She had worked in 7 World Trade Center and while we ate those delicious New York bagels, she told us of her harrowing experience of fleeing her buidling which was across from the South and North Towers.  As we listened, all four of us had tears in our eyes as she recalled the horrors of September 11th with her building colapsing at the end of that awful day.   

Come back on Thursday morning.  You won't want to miss Lynda's story.