Sad stuff: Today in the States is always a one for reflection. It’s 9/11. That was a sad day. Made even sadder through the fact that at the time I was a producer for a network that made training videos for first responders. I knew a lot of firefighters very well.
Years ago at a shoot. I had to get geared up for safety (and for fun).
Happy stuff: Many years later I was flown to NYC by a firefighter friend to make a video about the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. That was an amazing experience. We got to meet some great people from NYFD and shooting some cool stuff around the city.
Brooklyn in da house. Takin it to the bridge.
Fast forward a couple years and I got to produce another video about 9/11. I was also able to incorporate footage we shot in NYC. I’m really proud of this video (it even won an Emmy). Give it a watch if you have a few minutes HERE.
More sad stuff: I just learned that a old friend from high school has passed away from cancer.
He was a senior when I was a freshman. I always looked up to him because he was like all-state or something in Track, Cross Country, and Swimming. I also thought of him a lot because his freshman year of college he had an unfortunate incident which left him as a quadriplegic.
Brad
Happy stuff: It never slowed him down. He was always living life to the fullest and inspiring others. You can read his obituary HERE.
He would even come to our high school track meets in his wheelchair and cheer for us. Can you imagine a former champion runner, who was just permanently assigned to a wheelchair, instead of retreating from watching others run, but rather seeking them out?!? Amazing.
Some of my HS friends have been going on tribute runs this week and making makeshift memorials.
From a friend’s Facebook page.
I have many forms of inspiration, but to this day, there was nothing more of a “runspiration” than seeing him sitting behind the fence yelling encouragement. I still think about that on runs sometimes.
Me in high school.
OK, I hope I balanced enough happy stuff in with the sad. If not, then here’s a bunch of gifs of dudes getting hit in the privates: Enjoy (only if you’re immature).
How bout you? Do you love NYC? Any runspiration stories? Did I balance the sad/happy enough?
-Scott
Piratebobcat 