Weird Things that Pop into My Head in General

In 2001, just before 9/11 I had started my refresher training in the EA-6B.
In fact on September 11th I was scheduled to take my NATOPS exam, and had gotten up at 2am to cram.

I wrote an OD entry which I will probably post at some point in “Background Noise.” Before it all happened. I was on the west coast. It was a full moon.

Weeks later the military was the only aircraft in the air. I did radio checks every five minutes with Seattle center because I wasn’t used to the quiet.

Truth be told it was a little like “The Walking Dead.” Except it was the flying dead. It is never that quiet in the air.

Toward the end of my refresher training I was out over the warning area to the west of Oregon and Washington state. Missile defense. Not that much fun over a flat ocean reflecting a slate gray sky.

Once back in the ready room and as we were heading for debrief the SDO (squadron duty officer) told me I had a phone call.

It was my fiancée.

There are two truisms in naval aviation.

1. What happens in ‘Vegas stays in ‘Vegas.

And 2. Wives and significant others do not call the ready room.

X2 told me there were FBI agents at the house.

I went into the debrief, and per the bro-code said “anything for me?”

Nope.

Rushed home.

Turns out X1 had lived above two of the 9-11 hijackers when she was in San Diego. I had co-signed on the apartment.

The confluence is not lost on me.

But it was just a coincidence. An eerie coincidence.

Last updated March 14, 2016