911 revisited for the 49th time

Happy Birthday 48th Jimmy I was up just before 5:30am on Tuesday, September 11, 2007. The last time September 11 fell on a Tuesday the twin towers collapsed. Scary thought! But this day has never been a downer for me. No sir! It's my birthday! I did my exercises and walked with Ykraps just like any other day. The sky was heavily overcast unlike most of my birthdays where the sky is more often than not crystal clear and a deep blue. I checked the radar between my walk and run. A storm was about to blow threw the area. But I had to do my run just the same. I hit the streets with a brisk but warm wind blowing against the darkening sky. I didn’t get two blocks before the sky seemed almost certain to burst open with rain. Thankfully, it never did. It sprinkled just a little and the winds gusted, but nothing came of it. I completed my run like always. By the time that I finished my run it was day break. Back inside the house Mindy and Bella were up and about. I warmed some strada for both of us. Bella asked for a piece too. Mindy and Bella departed on time leaving Jacob and I home to fend for ourselves. Once again, I didn’t need to water. The beds were still adequately wet from the weekend rains, cooler than normal temps, and little if any sunshine. I was showered and ready to depart for work by 7:50am. I threw my golf clubs in the Trooper in hopes of having them re-gripped today at lunch. I met Jacob at the bus stop at 8:00am. Once again we greeted Pat and Alena. Pat was quick to wish me a happy b-day. I was appreciative of that. There wasn’t much time to gossip. The bus was there to snatch the kids in no time flat. I forgot to remind Pat and tell the bus driver that Jacob was going to go to their house after school since Mindy had a late staff meeting. Oops! Onto work. I arrived at work around 8:20am. My buddy Ken was still there when I arrived for the first time in at least a month. It was really good to catch up. I was extended a birthday greeting by a handful of folks. That was nice too. I was looking forward to heading out at lunch to drop off my clubs. By now the sky was beginning to shed the thick cloud cover and a few breaks of sun shone through. One of my guys offered to buy my lunch at Chipotles. That sounded good. We agreed to meet there after our separate errands. I arrived at Golf Galaxy at 11:55am. I had a rough time getting my golf bag full of clubs situated and through the store’s doors. I took them immediately to the club shop where I ordered the grips I wanted. They promised to have them ready for pick-up by noon on Wednesday. I was having all twelve – including my putter re-gripped. As I left the store and reached for my Blackberry I realized that it wasn’t at my side. Strange?? Now, I wasn’t 100% sure that I had it with me when I entered the store but felt confident that it was. Perhaps I left it in the Trooper I surmised. Nope, not there either. Hmmm? My heart raced! Before racing back into the store like a mad man I dashed back to the office only a half mile down the road hoping I had inadvertently left it there even though I was sure that I attached it to my side. I could almost visualize putting it on before I left. I ran up to my office only to find that it was not there. Shit!!! I left in a hurry to get back to Golf Galaxy to back track my every step. I was careful to not panic or at least show it outwardly to those I greeted and passed on my trip back there. I looked around the area where I parked initially thinking that it most have come off when I flung my clubs over my shoulder, but it wasn’t lying around anywhere. I dashed back inside the store and directly to the club shop. The kid that checked my clubs seemed oblivious to my question about the Blackberry. I was almost insulted at his non response. I wasted little time dashing to the front desk to ask the checkout clerk. I called it three times while in the store hoping to hear it ring, but still no joy. But as I approached the check out counter I spotted what looked like my Blackberry right next to the cash register. That was it! In that instant I was overcome with joy! I left Galaxy Golf and immediately headed towards the Chipotle at Mill Run. I phoned Eric along the way. He was already there waiting for me. We enjoyed our lunch in all of about thirty minutes. We were back at the office by 1:30pm. The afternoon flew by. Soon, it was time to head for the hills. Given that it was my birthday, I had lofty expectations as for what the evening might hold. After all, my birthday was created for the sole purpose of celebrating my very existence. When I got home I was greeted by my family (M, J, & B). Mindy asked how my b-day at work went. I responded with something like, just like most other days. I wasn’t hungry, still feeling the effects of my giant Chipotle burrito. I skipped a dinner. The kids presented me with a gift – a Minnesota Vikings pullover wind shirt. Cool! Mindy left Jacob and I home alone for a few while she went to the dance studio to fetch Bella. They returned somewhere between 7:30 – 8:00pm. In tow, they had a birthday cake. Mindy prepared the cake with candles and soon they all sang out in joy for it being my birthday. Even I participated. What a joyous occasion. That b-day cake became my dinner. There was no room for anything else. All that sugar put me over the edge. I was hyped up and anxious for the rest of the evening.