Despite all the hoop-lah 9/11/11 was a normal day out on the line as an airline pilot. I flew three legs including in and out of Boston (where Janet Napolitano had given a speech just that morning). The weather was nice, the schedule ran on time and we got home 10 minutes early. The biggest irritation was no one to marshall us in when we got to the gate in Orlando (that's what you get for showing up early in the airline biz).
I did take time to see the 9/11 memorial at Boston Logan during my long break there. I had lunch with my best friend who drove me over and showed it to me (while showing off his new car). The two Mass. State Police officers in their dress uniforms standing nearby (probably from the VIP visit) did give it a proper feeling of solemity though.
All in all it was beyond a normal day, it was a wonderful day. I have had few better trips in my career. I am convinced that we are more secure now than ever. I am not saying our system is perfect or inpenetrable. But we are awake at the switch and watching closely. In a word, we are vigilant. For this I want to say two things:
1: While others pay tribute to the victims of 9/11 (and well they should) I would like to pay tribute to all of the people in the security chain, from the intelligence agents in the field to the TSA folks at the airport, the FFDOs, the police, the alert bag handler and of course the American military. I even wish to thank our elected officials (all parties and branches) for 10 attack free years in the United States.
2: On 9/11/11 I had grilled swordfish and salad with my best friend ( a member of the aforementioned security apparatus) only a few hundred yards from the gate where some of the hijackers departed on 9/11. I had no sense of angst or worry. We talked about our families, cars, computers and video cameras. In other words; went on with our lives. Stronger, wiser and more alert than 10 years and 1 day ago, but every bit as happy. A note to the bad guys.....we win!
