Scarf

 

March 21, 2001 

Didn't Know I Could Whistle.....

 

Have you all seen this charming clip of George Harrison from 2001 playing the song "When There's a Shine on Your Shoes"?   I am pretty sure I had seen it years ago, but it was brought to my attention again this past week 

Switzerland in the summer

 

The Concert for New York City - 20 Years Apart

The photos above were taken during the Concert for New York City on October 20, 2001, and the photos below were taken on October 20, 2021, on the 20th anniversary of the concert. 

 

Paul and Colin Powell

When I read that former Secretary of State, Colin Powell passed away today, I thought about the time Paul McCartney met with him.   It was April 19, 2001.  Paul and Heather met with Colin Powell to discuss land mines.

On the Howard Stern Show

 

October 18, 2001 

On the streets of New York

 

October 16, 2001 --   Paul McCartney was back in New York City for the first time after 9/11 and he hit the streets in preparation for the Concert for New York.  

Fashion Week in Paris 20 years ago

 October 8, 2001

Paul poetry reading

October 4, 2001 -  Paul is back in London and reads poetry from his book "Blackbird Singing."  
 

We will never forget 9/11

 

20 years ago today was one of the scariest days of my life.   Everything changed on September 11, 2001, and while I do not live anywhere near New York City,  I was deeply affected by the terrorist attacks on my country that day.     I am certain that I am not the only person that feels that way.    Sadly, it seems that too many people have forgotten or downplay just how terrible of a day it was.   So many people that woke up that morning and went to work never made it home.    So many brave first responders ran into the towers and never came back out.   So many boarded airplanes and never returned.   It is staggering.   I was 24 years old and in a job that I really did not want teaching at a daycare.  I know I have told the story before, but 9-11 was the event that caused me to quit my job and go back to college to become a reading specialist.   I am now in my 19th school year as a reading specialist.  

9-11 was the event that caused Paul McCartney to tour again for the first time since 1993.   He organized the amazing Concert for New York, visited first responders, and wrote the song "Freedom."   I saw Paul in concert in October 2002 in St. Louis.   It was my first Paul concert actually.   I remember everyone had to go through metal detectors, had any purse or bag thoroughly gone through, and have a wand go over you before you could go into the arena.   This took a really long time and it caused the concert to start well over an hour than it was supposed to start.   Everyone was willing to do whatever was asked because we knew it was done to keep us all safe.  Paul performed the song "Freedom" and the place went wild.  There was a feeling of pride and unity singing "Freedom -- talking about Feeeeeeeedom.." with Paul.      For a few years, I felt like the world was a place where everyone worked together and got along.   But today, I feel like no one is united anymore.    Does it have to take a major tragedy to unite people?  

Today I want to honor the memory of all of those that died in the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and in the airplane that crashed in Pennsylvania.   I also want to honor the memory of those that worked at Ground Zero in the weeks and months (years?) that followed and have died due to cancer and other issues caused by breathing in the toxic air.    I think of the survivors and family members of the deceased that are still dealing with the trauma of that day.    

Thank you to all that helped that day.  Thank you to the firefighters, military, police, and medical professionals as well as the citizens that did their best to help everyone on that day.   Your acts of bravery have not been forgotten.  

No idea what the next day was going to bring...

 

September 10, 2001 -- The Redbook awards on Monday, September 10 was part of the reason why Paul was in New York City during that time.   He had planned on leaving and going back to England on September 11.  No one knew that the world was about to drastically change.  

Honoring Linda

 

September 8, 2001 -  PETA Awards 2001

Ringo on Today

 

Ringo performs on the Today Show on August 3, 2001

Paul times 2

 Paul Simon concert June 13, 2001

Laughs in Monte Carlo

 

May 7, 2001 

Wingspan 20 years later

 

April 26, 2001

Did you watch Wingspan when it was on TV in 2001?   I didn't really think much about Wings until I watched and that program really made me look into Wings and like them.  Now I listen to Wings all of the time and consider myself a big fan.    Sort of difficult to accept that Wingspan was 20 years ago!  

Tuscany Hotel

 

Back to back to the Egg?

 

March 26, 2001 

True Love

 

Never Forget

Here at MTBFR, I like to take a moment every September 11 to remember all of those lives that were lost on this date in 2001.    The tragic events changed my life as I am sure most everyone else can agree.   As Beatle fans, New York City is a place that is important to us because it is full of Beatles history.   After Liverpool and London, NYC has to be the next biggest city full of Beatles stories and memories.    But then the attack wasn't just on NYC or Washington D.C., it was on the entire country and we all felt it.

My love and thank you goes out to all of the firefighters and police officers that went inside those buildings when everyone was trying to get out.  So many brave men and women died that tragic day.  Here we see Paul visiting one of the New York fire departments in 2001.  Paul said because his dad was a volunteer fire brigade in Liverpool, he could relate to the firemen here.    At the time I thought that was a bit of a stretch, but whatever -- Paul's heart was in the right place.

Never Forget 9-11.  Peace and Love to you all.