mirrodie
2007-10-24, 10:33 PM
It was a great day the moment he awoke and smiled at me.
Well, our son is fast asleep and I look back at today.
Then I remembered the date and reminisce. Oct 24 2003.
The sun was still asleep on this cold Autumn morning. I'd spent the evening with new friends, Rachel and Steve, in a hotel outside JFK, just so I did not have to battle the early morning traffic and miss Concorde's last departure. The next morning we met with a group, as Prince might introduce as, formerly known as "AireolaAviation".
Lots of faces that morning. Even my family took a ride to see it off one last time. Phil, Julio, Art, Mike, Anne, Brian, Josh, Justin and many that elude me right now. Please don't take offense.
With a camera crew in tow, we walked along the beach, toward the sunrise, to spot that would give a clear view of JFK. One of my first lasting memories of the morn was the rising tide. We walked to the water's edge. Here you'd normally hanker down and just cross underneath the subway track trestle. But the water was closing in quickly. There was only about 5 feet from the incoming tide and the wall of no return.
On hands and feet, like commandos through dense brush, we traversed across the small islet. The sand seemed to freeze between my fingers.
We made it across
and watched
and listened
to the flurry of activity from across the bay.
The sun broke and it was truly a magnificient fall sunrise. A myriad of colors reflected off the water.
And after what seemed like hours, Speedbird 002's clearance was given and off she went.
I had my video camera that morning and it malfunctioned. To this day, its never worked. And yet, I was completely thankful. It was a Godsend that I cherish those last sights and sounds with my own eyes.
She took off and there was a sound after takeoff I'd never heard before... clapping.
As Concorde, followed by that deep guttural sound, made that wide arc south of Long Island and pointed east, we clapped and celebrated a marvel in avaition.
After a slow walk back to our cars, we broke bread at a diner on Cross Bay Blvd, again placing more names to faces and meeting new friends.
To this day, people ask, "So you were you on the final Concorde flight?"
And I can gladly say no. I look back and am fortunate to have enjoyed it with family and friends.
Its sad to see such a fantastic piece of beauty, chemistry and physics go, but onward and upward.
-Mirrodie
PS. anyone have tidbits they remember from the day? Would love to hear 'em
Well, our son is fast asleep and I look back at today.
Then I remembered the date and reminisce. Oct 24 2003.
The sun was still asleep on this cold Autumn morning. I'd spent the evening with new friends, Rachel and Steve, in a hotel outside JFK, just so I did not have to battle the early morning traffic and miss Concorde's last departure. The next morning we met with a group, as Prince might introduce as, formerly known as "AireolaAviation".
Lots of faces that morning. Even my family took a ride to see it off one last time. Phil, Julio, Art, Mike, Anne, Brian, Josh, Justin and many that elude me right now. Please don't take offense.
With a camera crew in tow, we walked along the beach, toward the sunrise, to spot that would give a clear view of JFK. One of my first lasting memories of the morn was the rising tide. We walked to the water's edge. Here you'd normally hanker down and just cross underneath the subway track trestle. But the water was closing in quickly. There was only about 5 feet from the incoming tide and the wall of no return.
On hands and feet, like commandos through dense brush, we traversed across the small islet. The sand seemed to freeze between my fingers.
We made it across
and watched
and listened
to the flurry of activity from across the bay.
The sun broke and it was truly a magnificient fall sunrise. A myriad of colors reflected off the water.
And after what seemed like hours, Speedbird 002's clearance was given and off she went.
I had my video camera that morning and it malfunctioned. To this day, its never worked. And yet, I was completely thankful. It was a Godsend that I cherish those last sights and sounds with my own eyes.
She took off and there was a sound after takeoff I'd never heard before... clapping.
As Concorde, followed by that deep guttural sound, made that wide arc south of Long Island and pointed east, we clapped and celebrated a marvel in avaition.
After a slow walk back to our cars, we broke bread at a diner on Cross Bay Blvd, again placing more names to faces and meeting new friends.
To this day, people ask, "So you were you on the final Concorde flight?"
And I can gladly say no. I look back and am fortunate to have enjoyed it with family and friends.
Its sad to see such a fantastic piece of beauty, chemistry and physics go, but onward and upward.
-Mirrodie
PS. anyone have tidbits they remember from the day? Would love to hear 'em