Crumbling Down

-

That was the button that the Mayor of Buffalo pressed to reduce Gates Hospital to a cloud of dust and rubble.

I was just a few feet away from Mayor Brown when he hit the button as someone yelled "Fire in the Hole!"

And as I swung my phone around to take the slo-mo video of the blast the first bangs echoed out in the early morning sky.

I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Those early blasts were followed by much louder, mind-numbing blasts, and in mere seconds, the concrete and steel began to break away...like a house of paper...

...the walls came crumbling down.

The shiver that shook my body was undeniable.

It was an out and out attack on my senses that while anticipated (I'd been at an implosion before) was shocking.

The crowd gasped and then a cheer went up.

A spontaneous, wonderful cheer that gave way to amazed chatter.

I had two thoughts:

"Amazing!!!"

and

"Everything eventually breaks down."

Those two thoughts erupted in my head and allowed another shiver to race down my back.

Then I was high-fiving guys who'd been on the job since February.

I had yelled at a couple of them...I had laughed with all of them.

They worked hard.

I worked hard.


And the guy who set the explosives had been precise.

"Amazing!!!"

I watched the dust settle and the Buffalo sky played a trick on me...the building where Dad had undergone surgery to remove a kidney...the building where I had worked as a laborer while going through school...

...was just gone.

The walls had come crumbling down.

It was a building that stood for years and would have stood for decades more.

But it had outlived its usefulness and new buildings will take its place.

"Everything eventually breaks down."

And I thought of the lives, the jobs, the relationships, the buildings and the homes...

...that eventually break apart.

Nothing lasts forever.

But one thing that will stay with me...

...until the day I leave this Earth...

...was the men who'd worked on the project...

...riding up on golf carts...

...just before the mayor hit the button...

...everyone was smiling.

Hard-working, every day...day after day guys...busting their asses in the name of getting the job done.

"Amazing!!!"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I bet you tha
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C’mon, Oliver,”
Read more