Where were you when...

Magnet #329 - Windermere, Lake District, England

My sister brought this back for me - it's the cruise boat that she took at Windermere Lake, in the ever-so-romantic Lake District. At something like 10.5 miles long and up to 200 feet deep, it's the largest lake in all of England, and is even classified as a public highway.

I chose it for today's magnet, because of the ferry. Up to now, ferries have gotten somewhat of a bad rap. They capsize, they run aground, they run into things - or, in George Clooney's case in One Fine Day, they leave kids behind.

But yesterday at work, we all gathered around the tvs to watch the "Miracle on the Hudson" downed plane coverage. We listened as Wolf interviewed person after person, and watched as the plane was escorted by its entourage of helpboats. And, we got to see NY Waterways and Circle Line ferries help out in whatever ways they could.

You know what? For some reason out, of all the footage they showed, I loved seeing both of those two ferry lines helping in whatever way they could. It was truly a happy-making feeling for me. That, and of course, the fact that everyone made it out alive, and that the pilot is a freakin' hero right now.

For the most part, it was a good news day, because it could have been a hell of a lot worse. I know, because it has been a lot worse. And for some reason, I always seem to be at the office when something crazy happens. In order of remembrance:

September 11, 2001. I was running around the office wondering if our 10am client meeting would still happen, until our chairman sat me down and said, joy, i promise you, the meeting's canceled. And then we all gathered to watch the horrifying coverage, first in our CEO's office, and then in our 2nd floor conference room with the rest of the company.

The Blackout. While half of the darkened eastern seaboard was out getting hammered, a group of us spent the night at the office, after an afternoon spent playing games in the corner office. I've never had so much fun in the office...though people say it was because I actually had company in the office that night. Hello! Sleepover!

Bill and Monica. Really?

Y2K. Well, not the NYE, but really, we all had to muddle through those last crazy contingency planning months of 99, didn't we.

The Hanging Chad. Again. Really?

That Yankees guy who flew into the NYC office building.

Pluto no longer a planet.

Well, ok. That wasn't really at work, but you get my point. And there are so many other events that I always remember where I was. In the office. With the same group of colleagues. Always.

I asked the question aloud yesterday, why exactly it was that all the big events in my life and/or the world in the last 11 years have all happened at work, and they say it's because I'm always at work. (I say bull pucky to that, because by God, this workaholic has totally passed the 12-step program and is working on the next.)

But, I do think there's some truth to the matter that you really do share a lot of your day with coworkers, in the office. I guess it's only natural that we'd bond over the tragedies and triumphs of the day.

Next up? We're all totally meeting up next week in the 2nd floor conference room for the Obama inauguration.

Anyone wanna come with?