Writing at Henwoodie just happens.  And often at the oddest moments.

It’s 4:30 am,Thursday, 11 September.  I can’t stop thinking about the 9/11 thirteen years ago when one of the most horrific tragedies struck New York City and the Twin Towers.  In all these years I still think about the last moments of all the people trapped inside the Twin Towers and how they died.

Fate really does work in mysterious ways.  I had contacted a prominent literary agent in London who was very interested in representing my epic heroic saga/mythology: THE LAY OF MOEL EYRIS: The Saga of the Bear’s Son.  She loved the concept and originality of the storyline and the history of the “Islands on the Edge”.  After reading all the material I had sent to her she was eager to read more, hear more about the project before signing me on as a client that she would represent.

I had told her that I would be in London in February and perhaps we could meet then to discuss her role as my agent.  She said “No, if I’m going to represent you I want to meet in person before then.  I’m going to be in New York in early September.  Let’s meet and have lunch.   Would Tuesday, 11 September work for you?”

I told her that the date worked fine.  I was only a two hour drive from the city.   We agreed to meet for breakfast in Lower Manhattan on 11 September 2001.

The agent, Rosemary Kanter, called me on Monday after she arrived in the city.  She sounded terrible.  After explaining to me that she had bad jet lag and a bad cold she asked if we could meet later in the week instead of the next day.   Again, I told her that my schedule was flexible and that it wasn’t a problem at all.

The rest is history.

9/11 happened.

And I was not in New York City.

It took me several days to track Rosemary down and make certain that she was all right.  As I watched the horror of the Twin Towers burning and people jumping from the upper floors I knew I would be haunted by these images and this date for the rest of my life.

Today is 11 September 2014.  Thirteen years since that infamous day.  I will take time to reflect and remember all the innocent people killed in such a horrendous manner.   When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt opened his famous “infamy” speech with these words: Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.  September 11, 2001 is another date which will live in infamy for all eternity.

We will never forget 9/11.

Not ever.