Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Jim, You've made my day!
We are so glad to see you have made it through the worst of it.
What you have experienced is near beyond comprehension.

For me, the only reference I have to watching your last few weeks is the fear of feeling again, the profound horror I felt when I watched the World Trade center come down on one of our friends who is in the U.S. Secret Service and his office was in the first tower that came down. He was also my assistant's husband. I arranged a ride to her Mom's home for her. We thought for sure he was a goner. Miracle of miracles, I got a phone call from him 4 hours later, looking for his bride! He was helping people out of the building and directing them to safety. He was just outside the main doors, heard something, looked up and saw the tower coming down. He was able to run fast enough to escape the falling concrete, glass, and steel. We have been praying you would come though this and I imagine you have been feeling similar for weeks. That is the part I cannot quite get my arms around. Had to be absolute torture.

We are all blessed to still have you and your family with us. We do hope you and yours emerge with minimal or no related health problems. I hope it isn't too early to say let the healing begin.

It may be a while and look forward to one day seeing a fresh picture of kangaroos stopping by your place for a snack!
And, of course... a few good steam-ups.

I believe it is safe to say our entire steam engine community has been pulling for you.

Be blessed,

          Gil & Simone