Monday, September 11, 2017

The Uneaten Meal

This is a part fiction, part true story of one of the most horrific days in our history. All the facts surrounding that day are true --I lived it. The fictional part examines what might have gone on in the mind of one of the victims during his last minutes of life.


The Uneaten Meal


           
            The watch hanging from Ian’s belt loop under his white chef jacket read 8:15. The morning rush was in full swing. Patrons sat in the sunlit posh restaurant—some drummed their fingers with impatience, others read the Wall Street Journal. Many seemed barely awake, sipping coffee for a caffeine jolt. 
            Ian had worked the kitchen all morning, his third day on the job as a Sous Chef to the Head Chef. He had survived the breakfast rush; bagels with cream cheese and lox for the rushed, Quiche Lorraine for the ones too important to punch a time card. Still, most would be heading to their various jobs, many on the 104th floor below the restaurant. The conference room, a floor below the restaurant, on the 106th floor was catering a breakfast to the Waters Financial Technology Congress, serving seventy-one guests.
            Ian was preparing for the lunch entrée special; a new recipe Chef would be offering to the lunch crowd--numbering hundreds. Ian worked quickly, with dozens of cooks helping to prep the ingredients. It was a gourmet delight – an aromatic concoction of bowtie pasta swimming in a rich white cream sauce, consisting of sweet herbed butter, heavy cream, white wine and an imported parmesan cheese. Large shrimp lightly sautéed in the sauce were placed on top, sprinkled with crumbled Greek feta cheese, sweet basil and freshly ground black pepper. Parsley sprigs added décor to the plate along with a few strips of fresh grilled red pepper. Chef Mike was confident of his creative cuisine. He was not of his new Sous Chef and often hovered over him, making Ian nervous. He was glad Chef Mike would not be coming in to work until the noon rush. This entrée could not be made completely in advance and the chef wanted a few made up to insure the recipe was followed to the letter. He had a fine reputation to maintain.
            As customers rose to go to their perspective jobs; many glancing out of the rows of large windows overlooking the panoramic business district of Manhattan and the East River, the dining room was set up for the lunch rush.
            Ian had Chef Mike’s creation ready to be sampled as soon as he arrived for his shift. He was afraid his job depended on how well he had prepared the dish. Still, he had done his best and felt confident it would suit the perfectionist chef.
Blinding light and roaring noise shut out his world. Fire and smoke filled the entire 107thfloor, screams of panicked customers and workers alike died out quickly as they were overcome by suffocation and burns. The delectible shrimp and bowtie pasta entrée was destroyed along with most of the kitchen. Neither Ian nor Chef Mike would ever know if it met the chef’s high standards. His new recipe would go uneaten, along with all the meals scheduled for that luncheon meal. Windows on the World, Manhattan’s noted and loved restaurant was destroyed. It was 8:55 and the 104th floor was incinerated. 
People on other floors were spared the direct impact of the first passenger jet, Flight 11 that slammed into the first tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The ones on the top floor, along with the people in the restaurant were trapped. There was no way down.  Many ran up the staircases to the top 111th floor and climbed onto the rooftop hoping to be rescued. Ian ran with them. He helped the few people alive make it to the roof.   Helicopters tried in vain to reach them but black billowing smoke prevented this, as well as bursts of flame. People succumbed to the heat and smoke and died. Others chose to jump off the top of the building, rather than burn to death. Ian was one of them. 
            As he jumped, his thoughts were of his wife and their new born baby girl. It was such a beautiful day that they had planned a picnic in Central Park when his shift ended. Before Ian reached the ground, his spirit left his body. He saw his body splatter on the street below. He watched as financial wizards, secretaries, businessmen, maintenance workers, became one in the futile effort to escape the building. He saw a second plane hit the second tower, taking more lives in an instant. This plane hit closer to the top of the second tower giving more time for people below those floors to get out. Many made it, many more did not. Ian’s spirit drifted through the first tower, watching frantic people calling on their cell phones for help—some realizing their plight cried and said goodbye to their loved ones.
            911 operators, unaware of the gravity of the situation, gave wrong advice to many who called--advising them to remain inside until help came. Help, that was unable to reach most of them. Most of the ones who survived had ignored that advice and hurried to escape the building.
            New York City responded at once. Ian watched as police, search and rescue squads, and fire trucks rushed to the scene. Ambulances raced to help those who survived. People began the long trek down dark stairways, coughing and choking on thick black smoke; often meeting police and firemen on their way up the building. The heat was unbearable. Ian felt anquished, knowing that so many would never make it back down. He saw many like him who could walk through the ruins, already dead.
            The second tower imploded almost without warning at 10:05 A.M., through time held no meaning for Ian. Thousands of lives were crushed into rubble. The ambulances and hospitals set up triages for the injured. Most beds lay empty, as few made it out of the towers alive. Except for the ones lucky enough to have escaped before the first tower imploded at 10:30, there were few patients to help. Ian observed the nearly 3000 souls wandering lost throughout the ruins. Many did not yet realize that they were dead.
            The shock waves of horror extended past Manhattan, its neighboring boroughs, rippled across the country, impacted the world.  America had been attacked by cowardly terrorists on her own soil. New York City wept, Mayor Guiliani wept, the free world wept. And Ian wept.
            The Chef’s new entrée in the Windows on the World would go uneaten, never sampled for its flavor.   There would be many uneaten meals that day and for many days to follow. Terror, death and inconceivable destruction had taken away the appetite of the City, the nation—most of the world. It left a bitter taste in the mouths of all those who lost loved ones and those who grieved with them.
            Ian glanced through the rubble and saw his chef uniform buried beneath the debris. It held a quickly scribbled note of love to his wife and newly born baby. He hoped it would be found and given to her. He also hoped that she would tell his baby girl about her father—so that his memory would live on, even if he could not. Ian sensed that this most infamous day would never be forgotten. He wished for new twin towers to be erected for all the lost lives destroyed this day, taken so brutally. And maybe a new restaurant and new offices restored—not to replace those lost but to honor them. Perhaps there would be a new chef with an untried recipe that would be eaten and enjoyed.   If that day arrived, it would signify healing in a shocked and saddened nation—a new beginning.
            Ian turned to see a horde of people of all ages and occupations gathering together. He looked up and a bright, warm light spread across the sky. He saw arms outstretched to embrace those who walked toward the brightness. He joined them.
Seventy-three employees in the restaurant died that day, all seventy-one in the conference room and an unknown number of patrons. Remnants from the Windows on the World restaurant rubble included: a dinner spoon, soup bowl, salad plate, dessert plate and coffee cup. Also found was a table lamp, champagne flute, bottle of champagne, grill scraper—and a chef’s uniform.
Author’s note: The terrorists had counted on taking out from 30,000 to 50,000 lives that earth shattering morning. Their timing was a little off and many people had not yet entered the building. However, due to the toxins in the debris, such as mercury and asbestos, many of those who spent days, weeks and even years searching Ground Zero for body parts are now dying a slow and agonizing death due to cancers of the throat, lung and esophagus. Many more will die in the ensuing years—among them, families and small children whose homes were filled with this debris; which they were told to clean up themselves. The repercussions of disease from toxins spread to Staten Island, when they helicoptered the remains to the Staten Island dump. The dump blew the toxins across the seventeen-mile- long Island and many are dying of quickly striking and fatal cancers. It is conceivable that the total count of those lost on 911 will reach 30,000 to 50,000 after all. Damn the terrorists

Review it!

33 comments:

  1. Micki, this comes up as a blank page. ???

    ReplyDelete
  2. cannot read -- comes in pale print

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am also experiencing the pale print problem. I hope you get this comment my friend and cheers to you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. "What truly thumps me out is a book that, when you're altogether done understanding it, you wish the writer that composed it was an astounding companion of yours and you could ring him on the telephone at whatever point you felt like it. That doesn't occur much, however." DoMyAssignmentForMe

    ReplyDelete
  5. Seventy-three representatives in the eatery kicked the bucket that day, each of the seventy-one in the gathering room and an obscure number of benefactors. topcelebs jackets Leftovers from the Windows on the World eatery rubble included: a supper spoon

    ReplyDelete
  6. We always keep good quality in our essays for our costumers all around the world.
    Mba Assignment Writing Service

    ReplyDelete
  7. Our reliable custom assignment help service gives you’re the chance of ordering customize projects having a reflection of your personal style
    Assignment Help Experts

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bridge City is a Reputable Cabinetry & Renovations Contractor. We Provide Services in IKEA Kitchen Design and Construction. We are a Quality Renovation Contractor that Renews and Brings Life back to Existing Properties no Matter what kind of Space you are Looking to Renovate: Bathrooms, Living Rooms, Kitchens, or Other Living Spaces.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ramma foundation is a company and a foundation that provide crack repair snow remove and gutter clean service. We are the crack repair foundation in Alberta Edmonton. We provide services like crack repair, gutter clean services, show removal, in short we are the foundation repair in Edmonton. If you are worried about the cracks on your home do not worry we are here to get it repair. If you are worried about snow on your roof, we can remove it. We are here to clean you gutter.

    ReplyDelete
  10. LOCAL is an independent life-style concept store that combines a specialty cafe, men's barbershop and an exclusive sneaker & street wear consignment store supreme abu dhabi

    ReplyDelete
  11. The food must taste good, giving the pleasure to eat it and must be produced respecting the environment, animal welfare and health The Italian way of eating exalts the genius of a people who pride themselves on artistic self-expression in drawing from the assets of a land that is intricately diverse by nature. Human and natural elements have combined in kitchens over time to engender an astonishing verity of dishes.
    That explains why IL FORNO does not represent a national eat of cooking so much as an encyclopedic fund of recipes, techniques and flavors of local inspiration.
    best Italian pizza in al ain

    ReplyDelete
  12. In this blog, you can have a great deal of refreshed child ocean to change the radio broadcast. That all given to have the reports on this

    ReplyDelete
  13. Owned and operated since 2008, we provide contractors, designers, and masons with quality, competitively-priced stone materials for your project needs.
    Edmonton stone suppliers

    ReplyDelete
  14. Owned and operated since 2008, we provide contractors, designers, and masons with quality, competitively-priced stone materials for your project needs.
    <a href="https://metexstoneworx.com/”> Edmonton stone suppliers</a>

    ReplyDelete
  15. Owned and operated since 2008, we provide contractors, designers, and masons with quality, competitively-priced stone materials for your project needs.
    <a href="https://metexstoneworx.com/”> Edmonton stone suppliers </a>

    ReplyDelete
  16. Owned and operated since 2008, we provide contractors, designers, and masons with quality, competitively-priced stone materials for your project needs.
    Edmonton stone suppliers

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ideal Jackets have a wide range of Men Leather Hoodie Jackets. The design and the quality is excellent and obviously the price is much cheaper than your thinking.
    Ideal Jackets

    ReplyDelete
  18. Bridge City is a Reputable Cabinetry & Renovations Contractor. We Provide Services in IKEA Kitchen Design and Construction. We are a Quality Renovation Contractor that Renews and Brings Life back to Existing Properties no Matter what kind of Space you are Looking to Renovate: Bathrooms, Living Rooms, Kitchens, or Other Living Spaces.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ramma foundation is a company and a foundation that provide crack repair snow remove and gutter clean service. We are the crack repair foundation in Alberta Edmonton. We provide services like crack repair, gutter clean services, show removal, in short we are the foundation repair in Edmonton. If you are worried about the cracks on your home do not worry we are here to get it repair. If you are worried about snow on your roof, we can remove it. We are here to clean you gutter.

    ReplyDelete
  20. so far i can read it and see it also , the main view also comes from Assignment Writing Service here , you also can see and read it , its already visible

    ReplyDelete
  21. there are many leather jacket website but one of the best is Instyle. This website is one of the best website for leather jacket products. Buy now to get the best services.
    Men's Leather Bomber Jackets

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hasten is uniquely positioned to maximize the success of its customers by utilizing its vast network of relationships along with its unwavering focus on its core principles of honesty, reliability, quality, credibility, and trust. With the goal of providing quality products, safely, and on a timely basis, Hasten will ensure you are satisfied with the end result.
    Fly Ash Supplier Louisiana

    ReplyDelete
  23. Being Sherwood Park, Alberta tile removal experts, have the peace of mind knowing that we do tile demotion with no damage to the wall underneath it. We do tile repair or tile removal in Edmonton at an affordable cost. You have professionals for your tile removal services Edmonton, with over 17-years of experience for client satisfaction. No job is to big or small for us to tackle whether in your home or commercial building. Bathroom and kitchen tile are installed to last.
    Tile Removal Contractor Edmonton

    ReplyDelete
  24. We have worked for many general contractors, school regions, municipalities, and even companies over the years. From small repairs to large expansions,commercial and residential fencing Edmonton Elite Fencing Systems can help you meet all your commercial fencing needs.

    ReplyDelete
  25. At OPTIMUM Process Solutions, we are passionate about assisting small to medium sized companies. Assess their business processes. Eliminate ineffective / inefficient activities that waste time & energy.Optimum process solutions Unleash employee potential to improve engagement and satisfaction. Optimize operating practices to maximize return.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hasten Chemical is a team of professionals who work to maximize the bottom line results of its clients. As a wholesaler of chemical products, Hasten provides unconditional commitment to excellence in quality, that will provide consistent results, and make us the partner of choice to help produce and maintain growth of Products and Service Companies.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hasten Contacting’s Cement Treated Base (CTB) consists in thoroughly mixing a prescribed amount of portland cement and water with aggregate materials and/or granular soils. This aggregate mixture hardens after compaction to form a durable pavement material.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hasten is uniquely positioned to maximize the success of its customers by utilizing its vast network of relationships along with its unwavering focus on its core principles of honesty, reliability, quality, credibility, and trust. With the goal of providing quality products, safely, and on a timely basis, Hasten will ensure you are satisfied with the end result.

    ReplyDelete
  29. We provide stone installation Edmonton and marble tile installation Edmonton for specialty flooring in the area. You will always find the best deals and information to make a wise choice. As stone contractors in Edmonton, we provide sales and service teams expertly trained to help you choose the stone, granite, marble, or other flooring or wall covering you have in mind to complement your decor, your lifestyle, and your budget. When you’re considering tiling an entire bathroom or a kitchen floor or even a modest new backsplash or replacement, depend on the best stone installers Edmonton to provide a superior job doing your tile or granite wall installation.

    ReplyDelete
  30. We at Envious Design by Brandt and Thompson believes that a life lived well is a life lived deliciously. We would like to introduce our outdoor convectional oven and custom BBQ construction service in the Edmonton Albert. We deal in all types of outdoor ovens and custom BBQ construction. Since many years, we have been installing ovens in the Edmonton Alberta and its surrounding. This make us first choice get professional installed outdoor ovens and BBQ setup in the Canada. We offer a wide range of product and services. To find out more about outdoor convectional oven and custom BBQ construction contact us today! Our highly qualified and trained professional would love to assist you. Leave a mesmerizing impression to your friend and family by hosting party with them in your own backyard and treat them with delicious food baked in your personal outdoor oven and BBQ setup installed by Envious Design by Brandt and Thompson Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Not sure, what your car needs? Do not worry! Give us a call or visit us and we will be happy to use our diagnostic technology to solve all your problems. These are just some of the services we offer: car repair shop abu dhabi

    ReplyDelete
  32. Indulge in unparalleled luxury with our exquisite Cabo San Lucas villas. Experience the epitome of comfort and style with our premier collection of Villa vacation rentals in Los Cabos, offering breathtaking views and unparalleled relaxation for your perfect getaway.




    ReplyDelete