I don't have any direct news about our Joe's Pond friends who have homes in Florida.  Not everyone has left here, and that is good for their safety, but for those with homes on the western coast, especially, we have to wonder what, if anything, they'll have to go back to.  When we have definite news, we'll post it here.  In the meantime, lots of people here are thinking about friends there and hoping they are safe.

I just had a call from Charlie Aimi (W. Shore Rd.) saying he found an iPhone this afternoon at around 2:30, at the intersection of Barre Avenue and West Shore Road.  If you have lost your phone - call your phone's number - Charlie will answer and you can make arrangements to pick it up. 

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the attack on September 11, 2001.  That was actually a Tuesday - and like other important events that have happened, many of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we heard the first news.  I recently had occasion to e-mail George Parizo (Sandy Beach Road), and in the course of our conversation, he told me this story:

As you may know, Pat and I ride a Honda Gold Wing Motorcycle, now converted to a Trike. I have 130 thousand safe miles under my butt and Pat has 80 K under hers.  We are also Vermont Assistant Directors in the Goldwing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) with over 140 thousand members internationally.  We would never drive out of our driveway without all the safety equipment, all the time, hot or cold

Where have we been to add up some of that mileage?  Virginia Beach, many times; Intercourse, PA. eight times; Tennessee twice; Key West, Florida; Maine more times that I can recall; and Nova Scotia twice.

Where were you on 9/11?  Pat and I were crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge out of Virginia on September 11, 2001, when the first tower was hit!  The Navy Ships were pouring out of Norfolk VA.. All civilian ships were stopped outside of the bay. We went into the island building and saw on TV what was happening.  There was still a hijacked plane in the air, so we retreated to our motorcycle and got off the bridge as fast as we could.  Speed limits were bent just a wee bit until we on dry land!   All the rest of the day, with cruise control engaged because there were police cars everywhere, we listened to the radio.

The next day we boarded the Cape May Ferry to cross over to the mainland.  Again, everyone had their eyes on the TVs on the boat.  Back on the mainland, we stopped at the first information center in NJ. And inquired if any bridges were open in NY. They called ahead for us and we were told all the bridges would be open by 11 am..  We were still on the NJ side, just across the river from New Youk City, and we could see a yellow pall over the city where the towers used to be.  Soon we were engulfed in the dust. .Not having any windows to roll up, we pressed on. The dust stung our eyes and noses, but there was no place to stop. The dust only lasted for a few miles but Pat coughed for six weeks afterwards.

We arrived back in Springfield, Vermont, that evening, safe and sound, but that was an experience we do not wish to ever have again!

George and Pat