Over the years, I’ve interviewed quite a number of people for different projects about their experiences on September 11, 2001.

It’s striking how many who were in the New York City area that day mention the weather: nearly cloudless, mid-60s—one of those incredible, bright, late summer days with almost no humidity and high visibility.

Senseless tragedy combined with natural beauty.

Yesterday was quite nice in the NYC area as well: 55 degrees, sunny. We live just outside the city now, and I spent a lot of time outdoors, enjoying it with my daughter.

If there’s a silver lining in all of what’s happening right now, for me personally it’s that I’m spending more time focusing on being a dad and husband.

We’re about to go through some pretty dark days, if the White House and the experts are right.

That leaves me grabbing the good while it’s here, and hoping and praying that there will be much more on the other side: the time with friends and family, the funny moments—and even the nice weather.

We’ll get to the somber news below. But, I’d like to share a few other “good things” that others shared with me yesterday.

A few samples:

• The sheer number who replied to yesterday’s email with stories of helpers and heroes. Those will be coming soon.

• This viral video (although how I hate the word “viral” now) from Ina Garten…

• Or this British family, locked down like so many of us are, but finding a heck of a way to pass the time. (I love the outtakes at the beginning.)

What lies ahead is going to be hard.

if you pray, please do. If you don’t pray but you’ve always been curious, well you could pick a worse time to give it a shot.

And keep sharing the good, and the funny, and the beautiful things. That’s part of how we’ll get through it.

9 other things worth your time

• People reacted to this photo Southwest Airlines posted—showing hero medical professionals from Atlanta arriving in New York City. Now, a nurse who was on the plane is describing what it was like to land and go to work immediately in the middle of the hot zone. (Business Insider)

southwestair

While so many of us continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, no one knows what is happening quite like our medical professionals. These brave souls soldier on in the midst of tremendous risk and exposure, constantly putting the needs of others above their own. Their selfless sacrifice is a beacon of light during such a dark time in our world, and no amount of gratitude and praise would ever be enough. Because of their courage, our family, our friends, our coworkers, our neighbors, and more have a fighting chance. More than a dozen healthcare professionals from Atlanta answered the call this past Friday evening to serve in New York. This photo embodies it all: bravery, courage, and sacrifice. If it were easy, everyone would do it, but we know that is not the case. Thankfully, this group and countless others do it each day, and for that we are forever grateful and in their debt. So to all the first responders, medical professionals, healthcare workers, and anyone else on the front lines today and every day to keep us safe, thank you. #SouthwestHeart (📸 Southwest Employee Dayartra E.)

March 29, 2020

• “In a remarkable turnabout, rich economies where virus cases have exploded are welcoming help from less wealthy ones. Russia sent medical equipment and masks to the United States. Cuba supplied doctors to France. Turkey dispatched protective gear and disinfectant to Italy and Spain.” (Associated Press)

• Another round of unemployment numbers are scheduled to come out today. Estimates range from 4.5 million to 5.3 million—staggering numbers that would dwarf any other time in U.S. history. (New York Times)

• Confusion: The U.S. has been sending medical supplies overseas, while simultaneously asking some of the same countries to send similar medical supplies here. “Roughly 280 million masks in warehouses around the U.S. were purchased by foreign buyers on Monday alone…” (Politico)

• Sobering: The Pentagon is trying to buy 100,000 body bags for civilian use, on behalf of FEMA. (Bloomberg)

• Almost every federal prison inmate will be locked in their cells for the next two weeks to try to slow the spread of COVID-19 in correctional facilities. (Washington Times)

• After two cadet suicides in a matter of days, the Air Force Academy is reviewing “prison-like conditions” intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy sent all cadets home, but the Air Force kept 1,000 senior cadets on campus, living alone in dorm rooms, attending classes online, and eating take-out food from the campus dining hall. (The Gazette)

• There are now 12 remaining states that do not have statewide stay at home orders, although some of them have cities or counties that do have orders: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. (The Hill)

• Florida will not allow entry of a cruise ship owned by Carnival Corp.'s Holland America Line with 1,200 passengers, including hundreds of Americans and Canadians. The governor later said the 49 Floridians aboard could come home. (NBC News)

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