[at-l] Effects of 9/11 on my hiking

[Phil.Heffington@oc.edu (Phil Heffington)]

Two years ago last Halloween I stayed in the WTC hotel after traveling
to NY to wed my daughter and her fiance.  I walked across the plaza and
a block away filmed the victory parade for the NY Yankees after they won
the World Series.  I filmed much of the experience and looked in wonder
at the WTC on each side of the hotel as I looked from below and filmed
the expanse of the structures straight above me.

I am still in some sort of emotional shock with even the thought that
they are actually gone, that so many lives were lost, and that only a
few years earlier in 1995 I had felt the concussion of the bombing of
the Murrah Federal Building here in OKC.  I have since committed myself
as a volunteer for the American Red Cross as a disaster relief
counselor.  This means that if a national disaster occurs during the
month I have selected to go on my annual section hike of the AT that I
will defer my hike and, instead, serve my country in any way my talents
allow, instead of enjoying so much how my country has served me by
protecting a portion  for me to hike and appreciate in peace and
tranquility.

God, I pray I can hike this year!!