Time passes quickly

23 years ago today ABC had not yet broadcast an HD show.  Consumer digital cameras were in their infancy and megapixel cameras a pipe dream for most people.  Hard drives were measured in megabytes and not terabytes.  Streaming had something to do with water. The YES Network was not in existence.  I was in my 30s.

Time goes fast.  The world changes quickly.  Sometimes with a phone call. 

23 years ago phones were primarily things attached to the wall - cell phones were not were they are now.  Landlines were still the way to communicate most of the time.  My phone rang around 9PM or so.  My brother was on his honeymoon, in Australia, and tried to reach my Mom. He asked me to try.  I had no luck, and finally called the police.  My Mom had Type I diabetes. Through the years I had to have emergency service do a welfare check when I realized she was having severe hypoglycemia episodes while speaking to here.  I figured this was probably the situation once again.

 Miami PD needed confirmation from my local PD that before doing the check.  There was a fatal traffic accident at the tim, and my local PD was tied up and could not help when I first called.  By the time they were able to confirm to Miami PD that I was legit, and Miami PD was able to get into my Mom's place, it was August 14.  My phone rang.  My Mom was gone.

We then went through the process of going down to Florida, making arrangements, getting my Mom back to New York and the funeral.  It brought its own set of "fun."  

My Mom had probably passed away 2-3 days earlier, so the apartment was not a pleasant scene.  We had to fire specialists to clean the carpet and remove the bed.

It then took a few days to arrange to have her come back to NY as we worked through the red tape.

We told the funeral home that we wanted it be closed casket per Jewish tradition.  A few days later the funeral home called and said there is no way it could be an open casket.  Thanks. 

During the ride out to the cemetery I heard chatter coming from the driver area.  I remember hearing chatter on their radio (back in the old days before cell phones and easy routing.). I thought it was rather rude.  Then I began hearing what was being said.  I could not believe it.  They got lost. After dealing with everything, I finally lost it.  Man I yelled.  We pulled into a strip mall, and I had to be calmed down as people looked for a place to get a map or directions.  We finally got back into the limo and headed on.

When we got to the cemetery, we went and looked at the gravesite.  The gravesite was not prepared the way we asked.  The not traditional, we asked for a vault, but wanted some holes in the bottom for contact with the ground.  As they lowered the casket in, it was clear that it was not done.  I was ticked off again, but did not go off on anyone.  Things were worked out, and they fixed things.  As they lifted the casket back out, I had an awful feeling that it would fall and open up.

Worked then went down with crowbars to make some holes.  I pictured the vault shattering.  Finally it was done and we could complete the service.  In the beginning of September I was close to heading back to my friend's law firm - I was doing some per diem work to help him out.  

I started in May, 2001.  I would go in a few times a week.  Drive to the PATH train and take the train into the World Trade Center station.  Walk a couple of blocks and we were at the office.  

On August 10, as we were heading out to the train, and I got caught on one side of the turnstile, as my friend went through and got onto the Path Train. My cell phone ran out of power.  Things got straightened out via a series of calls on pay phones.  It took awhile and I wandered around the area looking at stores and was able to grab a beer.

I had not been at the office since the day I got caught in the turnstile.  I finally decided it was time to go back and told my friend I would see him the next Tuesday.  I tried to pick days when we both trained in Karate since it would help make sure we would get out at a reasonable hour.  We both had a tendency to work late.

Shortly after that call, my brother called and said we should go back to Florida to clean up my Mom's apartment.  So I called my friend and told him I would not be coming in, and made arrangements to go to Florida.

As I was finishing packing and getting ready to go to the airport, the phone rang.  It was my wife.  She told me a plane just flew over her head into the World Trade Center.

Then in 2014, my doctor called me and left a message.  My proximity to the WTC in 2001-2002 came back one more time in a phone call.  

Time goes fast.  The world changes quickly.  Sometimes with a phone call.