Panorama

A few thoughts on Patriot Day:

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The 10 Most Spectacular Panoramic Views in the United States

(According to the Society of American Travel Writers)

1. New York City, as seen from the top of the Empire State Building, Staten Island ferry, across the Hudson River, or when flying into the city at night
2. The Grand Canyon, from either the South or North rim
3. Helicopter views of the Na Pali Cliffs and coastline of Kauai
4. Monument Valley
5. San Francisco, from the Golden Gate Bridge
6. Yosemite Valley
7. The Chicago skyline, from a boat on Lake Michigan
8. Big Sur, California
9. Diamond Head, Honolulu
10. The National Mall, Washington, D.C.

Honorable Mentions: View from the Space Needle, Niagara Falls from Freedom Bridge, Bryce Canyon, the summit of Pikes Peak, and the Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia and North Carolina

I've been lucky enough to see several of these panoramas (just not the two in Utah, go figure) but I never saw the Twin Towers. My first trip to Manhattan wasn't until 2005.

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Andrew "Little Tiger" Enke posted a picture of this quote from the 9/11 Museum a year ago:

"Hey Jules, this is Brian. Ah, listen...I'm on an airplane that has been hijacked...if things don't go well, and they're not looking good, I want you to know that I absolutely love you. I want you to do good, have good times, same with my parents. I'll see you when you get here. I want you to know that I totally love you. Bye, babe, hope I will call you." Brian Sweeney, passenger, United Airlines Flight 175

His caption read, "As I read the last line, I cannot imagine what his wife felt as she waited for his phone call which would never come. As we often use the phrase never forget I would invite all of you who see this post to never forget but also to always remember to let your family know how much you love them. Life is too short to hold onto grudges. If you haven't already, call your mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, or friend and let them know how important they are to you."

I really love Andrew. He was my college roommate's little brother and the same age as my little brother. When I'd sleep at Meagan's house on special weekends Andrew would be practicing drums in his room or eating a sixth bowl of cereal in his flannel pants. Now he's all grown up, Seattle's Husband and Dad of the Year, and the only person that teases me about boiling turkey carcasses every Thanksgiving.

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My new neighbor was vacationing in Hawaii on January 13 of this year. He was awakened by the odd phone alarm and incoming message

BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT

INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK

IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT

A DRILL. JAN 13, 8:07 AM

He said that facing imminent death brought this train of thoughts:

1. My wife is with me. (relief)

2. My temple recommend is current. (relief)

3. I have no enemies at this moment. I am in good standing with my fellow man. (relief)

He spent the next few minutes trying to call or text his children to tell them he loved them. He didn't reach all of them but left messages. It was 38 minutes until the false alarm was announced.

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I watched Boatlift on Youtube today. What a good eleven minutes. I cried when all the boats surged to the seawall and when the man at the end said he never wants to say "I should have...". 

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If you line up enough lives and truly look at them you'll see a panorama of the most beautiful shapes in the world: love, sacrifice, forgiveness, connection, remembrance, and rescue.