Note to Self

When invited to join a friend for a day trip always keep the following in mind:

-Just because a friend invites you, do not depend on your friend to do everything. Take a look at train schedules and maps, etc. Acquaint yourself. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF.
-When traveling to a new place and especially small villages, try to print out a map (Google or Mapy.cz) of certain locations. For example, the train station you intend to depart from.
-Never be so shy or afraid to ask for help or directions.
-Always pack extra snacks. Throw in nuts, raisins, chocolate. Did I say a chocolate bar? ;) You might think you only need that one sandwich and bottle of water, but you never know what might happen during the course of the day or night. For example, you might miss your train and be stuck in an antiquated train station (at least from the 50s but possibly pre-war with 1950 updates) without any vending machines and no food options whatsoever.
-Don't try to pack too much in. Be realistic. Don't start climbing a hill at 5 or 5:30 pm and think you're going to reach a wine festival and then catch a train by oh, say, 7 or 8 p.m.
-Keep in mind that the sun does go down and when it does, boy, is it dark out there in the forest.
-The flashlight app for Androids comes in handy. Equip your phone.
-When leaving home, always wear walking shoes - whether they be sneakers or tennis shoes or hiking boots. Avoid sandals. Forget about fashion. Be realistic.
-If you do not have proper walking or hiking boots, do not attempt to walk through forests and climb hills.
Period.
-If you've made the mistake of wearing improper attire, check your anger and frustration. IT'S YOUR FAULT. NOT YOUR FRIEND'S.
-Should you decide to stray off the beaten path, expect to find the unexpected. For example, fences, locked gates, ravines, thorns, snake holes, weeds, bees, wild boars, etc.
-When you ask for directions from two people at the same time and those two individuals give you conflicting answers, DO NOT FOLLOW EITHER ONE. They are inevitably wrong.
-Do not assume that a train station bearing the name of a village is actually located in that village. It could be named after the neighboring village.
-Always pray.


The above represents valuable lessons learned from yesterday's day trip to Litomerice and Velke Zernoseky. There were a few other villages thrown in, but it was too dark and I could hardly read the signs. After 3 train connections and helping out a Russian wunderkid and two clueless Americans get Czech money and metro tickets, I took a midnight bath and slipped into bed around 1 a.m. feeling very, very, very grateful to be home (and not sleeping in a scary train station in the middle of nowhere).

My 9/11

On the morning of September 11, around 8:40, I was exiting a PATH train from Hoboken, N.J. at the subterranean level of the World Trade Center. Minutes later while I was walking up the steps of the commuters’ “mole hill” — a host of escalators and stairs ferrying New Jerseyites to the main concourse — police came running, yelling to get out of the way. I didn’t raise an eye brow – such is life in NYC. But it was no ordinary day. Soon EVERYONE started running to reach the ground level. Never one to follow the crowd, I made an exception.

At the ground level people were scurrying around. I exited on Vesey Street – not my regular route.  Outside a crowd gathered, mesmerized by the fiery hole and debris. The air had a terrible industrial smell. Instinctively I tried to call home but without success. Word on the street was that a chartered plane had accidentally crashed into the North Tower. I found that kind of strange, but had no better explanation. As debris continued to fall and air quality worsened, I decided it would be better to exit this “war zone” and get to my building. Instead of walking I jogged.

At One Chase Manhattan people were attempting to go about their normal routines but there was a heavy uneasiness in the air. As I stepped onto the 59th floor I met one of our firm’s partners who normally had a ready joke but Andy was less than chipper. He looked at me with a distraught expression and said, “There are people jumping.” My heart sunk as I entered our lobby. Turning the corner I was making my way to my cubicle when a plane came into view through our conference room windows looking out upon the Towers. As the second plane exploded, everyone came running out and so began our descent down 59 flights of stairs. That was it. It was no accident. We were under attack.

I miss New York every September. My heart aches as I think of friends. I remember the look on their faces, how we tried to encourage and support each other every step of the way. I remember the surreal feeling of downtown Manhattan. I remember reconnecting (after 8 years) with an old classmate from high school who called out my name amidst the crowds. I remember taking a ferry with my roommate later that day, and being hosed down by NJ firemen and EMTs in Hoboken upon our arrival. I remember hug upon hug after we finally returned to work. I remember the warm embrace of the El Salvadoran man who picked up our office’s recycling every day. I remember meeting a young woman from Cantor Fitzgerald who called in sick to work (her offices were on the top floors); she was one of maybe two team members alive and she was searching for answers, struggling to make sense of life. I remember and I hope.

I did not know anyone personally who died that tragic day, but, I was there. I saw the destruction and shook with fear and anger. But I also experienced a real and amazing sense of community in the weeks that followed. For me September 11 is a stark reminder of the very real presence of evil in this world, the fragility of life, and that we should take no day for granted. And, it is an enduring lesson of sustaining faith and hope in the midst of tragedy, disaster, and injustice.