Today's commute started the same as the two previous days, riding to work about 3.7 miles, getting my shower, and beginning work. But today was to be different--I needed to get a respiratory protection program physical at a doctor's office in Beaverton, a number of miles from my home and work, and I was determined that today, it would be only by bicycle. September 11th is a day I will use not one drop of gasoline!
When I fired up my computer, I had a message from Dolphin Software's CEO. Here's what he had to say, and my reply:
Dear Friend,
We will always recall where we were on September 11th, 2001. As a
participant in the Dolphin Software InfoEx '01 Conference we endured the
news, devastation and emotions together. Today, as we remember the tragic events of last year, Dolphin also remembers you.
May you and yours be well,
Mark
President & CEO
Dolphin Software, Inc.
Mark, Marie, and Dolphin Staff
Thanks for the message. This event commemorated today is like the Kennedy assassination, and yes, it will be remembered. I really appreciated the professional way your staff handled the situation too last year. I know that, a year ago today, we thought we had lost ~40,000 people in the Twin Towers collapse. Thank God, it was much, much fewer. This is thanks to some measures taken after the first Twin Towers bombing, I'm hearing, and the emergency responses developed as a result of that event. Our common profession had a role in saving a lot of lives a year ago, and we should be happy about that, but as I write these words, the screen is becoming a bit blurred.
Today, like last year, I'm again on my bicycle; driving and using oil today seems somehow disrespectful. I have a fairly long ride at noon from Hillsboro to Beaverton for a respiratory physical. It will remind me of another long ride from downtown Portland, and the InFoX conference site, to Beaverton to get home.
Take care, and we will always remember.
John
As I began my ride, I simply rode home for lunch with my wife, who was off today. After a quick lunch, I again got on the bike, and decided how to get to my Beaverton appointment on Hall Street. I had at first wanted to go another route, but it had a large hill and would be further out of the way. So I started into Beaverton and toward Hall Street.
As I went, the traffic seems less vicious today. Cars stopped for me, not once, but many times. They were courteous, and observed the rules of the road. Many rode with their lights on, something a local radio station promoted as a way of commemorating the 9-11 tragedy. I saw kids playing in a park fountain, then saw the “walk the bike” sign on the path between two roads, braked and walked the bike to the roadway. Beside the fountain was a park, where there were people dressed with American Flags showing, giving instruction to boys and girls gathered around. I pedaled away, and saw a home with what seemed to be a party going on, and at least three American Flags flying along with Red, White and Blue decorations.
As I rode, I remembered my ride back from downtown Portland to Beaverton a year ago. I was so glad I had taking my bicycle that day! After the emotions of the morning; seeing the towers collapse before riding to the MAX station to go down town for the conference; having to tell my son, Brian, that indeed one tower had collapsed (as a mechanical engineer, he though that at first incredible); thinking about the loss-of-life; learning new techniques on a hazard communications program software database, then turning the TV on in the hotel room to find out about the Pentagon; learning about the flight in Pennsylvania; all this had left me numb and in need of doing something physical. Instead of riding the MAX back, I rode my bicycle. I wanted to hurt, wanted the pain, the distraction of a ride over an unknown route back to my temporary home. I had a bicycle map, and in an hour and a half made it back home. I was very tired, but the physical toll had used up the adrenaline that had been building all day, and in a positive manner. Mentally, I was refreshed.
The ride to the doctor’s office took less time than I had thought. I had left myself an hour, and it took forty minutes. My riding over the last few years apparently has helped my lung function too, and the doctor complimented me on my efforts.
Riding back, I decided to ride all the way back to work, and as there was only about one hour left to work, I stayed in my bicycling shorts. I was able to accomplish some thing’s too.
On the way home, I stopped by the store and picked up some ice cream (“Lite” ice cream, at that) that was on sale. It seemed the perfect way to end the day, and without any use of gasoline by either of us. I had this idea planned since the beginning of the week, and it ended with about two and a half hours on the bicycle, and 30 miles or so. It was one of the best rides I’ve had recently, and my way of thumbing my nose at the terrorists who get their money from oil.
John