God Bless Jack Bauer

So much to say right now. I have never been able to document in print my actions or memories. Until now thanks to WordPress and the internet.

I’m sure everyone and their brother and their brother’s cousin (wait, wouldn’t that be their cousin too?) are blogging, tweeting, and Facebooking, about how historic the events of tonight are.

People often ask ‘Where were you when…?’ and the conversation usually includes 9/11/01, Michael Jackson, and (for our older folks) JFK.

For 9/11: I was at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, NV with my wife trying to board a plane to come home when the planes hit. We got stuck there for 5 days but our loss was not as dear as many others. I’ll save that for another blog.

For Michael Jackson: I was sitting on my couch with my family watching TV when I flipped on Facebook on my phone and saw someone post how the rumor was he had passed. This led to almost two hours of watching the news coverage. I’ll save that for another blog.

For JFK: well, my mom was only 7 years old when he was killed so I obviously wasn’t around. Another blog for this will be unnecessary.

Now it can include 5/1/11.

However I wasn’t at the Mets/Phillies game. I wasn’t outside the White House. I wasn’t at Ground Zero in NY.

While most Americans were asleep, dreaming, or going to bed and preparing for their Monday mornings: I was sitting on my couch (again) watching TV when I flipped on Facebook on my phone and saw someone post how the rumor was Osama bin Laden had been killed. A little eerie right?

Take into consideration I am about 80 hours away from trying to board another plane… to Las Vegas. Still eerie?

How about nearly 66 years to the day that Hitler was dead?

Now I’m stunned. What do I do? Do I continue to sit here in complete silence like I have for the last 2 hours watching the news coverage for the next 2 hours because it’s more significant than MJ’s death? Do I go and wake up my wife and kids and hug them and share the good news with them? Do I get dressed and rush to a public setting and celebrate my patriotism like thousands across this country are doing? Do I cancel my trip to Vegas because I’m scared about what might happen in the next few days?

I will probably wake up my wife (mainly because I want to share this moment with someone other than the internet) but until that moment, as more details become public knowledge and news about a military operation that sounds very 24-esque, I will: thank the men, women, and families of the US military, thank our President, and thank God everyday for everything he gives us. Especially Jack Bauer & Las Vegas.

Please add your comments below about your 9/11 experience and this special night of 5/1