17 years ago today . . .
I haven’t been to New York since 1973, and when we were there, they were just finishing the South tower of the WTC. Flew around NYC in a helicopter and was amazed at the sheer size of the buildings.
Flash forward to 2001, and I got a phone call from a friend to tun on the TV just in time to see the 2nd plane hit that south tower. It was surreal. After watching the news for about an hour completely freaked out, I drove to work in Mountain View right next to Moffet Field and will never forget seeing a UAL jumbo jet being escorted by 2 F-16s flying really low over the Bay.
Everyone in the office was watching whatever TVs were available and crowded around them. The company I worked for then, VeriSign, had an office in tower 2 somewhere around the 60th floor (8 people), so some people were trying to get a hold of them. After a couple hours, we found out they all had gotten out safe. We all went home to just try and grasp what was going on.
I used to eat my lunches out in the parking lot for the Shoreline Pavilion and watch the planes fly in and out of Moffet. It wasn’t a lot, but it was so bizarre to see completely empty skies for the next 3 weeks, or whatever it was.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
I can’t imagine what the people in the plane were thinking as they were escorted to SFO by fighter jets.
Injury report:
Right guard Mike Person has a foot strain and fellow RG Joshua Garnett has a dislocated toe. Neither had any broken bones. Brock Coyle is in the concussion protocol, and Marquise Goodwin is day-to-day with a deep thigh bruise. If Garnett has turf toe he may be out a while.
Person and Garnett are not headed to injured reserve, but their availablility for Week 2 will not be known until later this week. If both are unable to play, we’ll probably sign another guard. Erik Magnuson is working his way back but he might still be inactive this week. Matt Tobin can play center and guard in a pinch.
If Coyle is unable to make it through the concussion protocol by this weekend, Elijah Lee would start in his place next to Fred Warner. Dekoda Watson went on IR so the team is visiting with two potential replacements for Watson, but they could also still add a linebacker to replace Coyle or an O lineman for depth at guard.
So, nothing overly terrible, but a lot of nicks and scrapes early.
Good friend of mine survived it as well Chuck.
Had this piece done couple of years back too.
Never forget…
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Robert-Small-September-11-Survivor-Twin-Towers-Searches-for-Pregnant-Woman-Good-Samaritan-392833951.html
That’s a great story and it makes me feel good on this Tuesday. As tragic as the day was, it was also filled with great stories just like that one. I will never be a religious man, but God Bless those folks who survived and God Bless those who sacrificed themselves to save them. After all these years, I still can’t get my mind around the bravery so many people exhibited that day and the days that followed.
Thanks for posting this tribute, Chuck. I’ll never forget where I was, what I was doing or how I felt that horrible morning. I don’t think I can say that about any other time in my life.
I can’t imagine a dislocated toe can heal sufficiently in a week to play football. From Garnett’s reaction on the field, you’d think he was shot. Deep muscle bruises hurt like hell, but hopefully Quise can go. They need him, badly.
Thanks, LJ. Too young for JFK, and I vaguely remember MLK and RFK’s assassinations, but for the baby boomers, a definite moment where the axis of the universe changed.
One of my all time favorites
As Jimi so eloquently said, Only when the power of love overcomes the love of power will we truly know peace.
The solo at the end is one of Jimi;s best. RIP Jimi, and to all those lost on this day 17 years ago.
New thread is up.