True story. I've been married a couple of times, albeit to the same woman, and I've always had something of a blind spot for birthdays, anniversaries, just can't remember them and it's never occurred to me to write them down, she does it, and will occasionally say something like it's your sister's birthday next week.
Anyway, 9\11 I was sitting in a bar in a yacht club in Poole having just bought a boat, watching the telly over the bar and seeing the planes crash into the buildings I asked the barman what the film was, no mate, that's the news. **** me I think it took an hour for the reality of the situation to sink in, it's a moment in time I think most of us will never forget.
Fast forward 51 weeks, all you would hear on the radio was red/black alerts about an impending terrorist atrocity on 9/11 to mark the anniversary of the attack on the twin towers. Every western government was on high alert expecting a major incident to mark the anniversary of 9/11 and all week the words 9/11, twin towers, anniversary kept ringing out over the airwaves.
On the morning of 9\11 I was woken up by the radio alarm, no incidents so far but again they were talking about a likely attack to mark the anniversary of 9/11.
So, eventually 'she' woke up and said 'happy anniversary'.
I swear to God my blood ran cold and I just lay there thinking 'what a f*****g strange thing to say'
Anyway, after about 5 minutes the full horror of the situation dawned on me, it was our wedding anniversary, or one of 'em at least, no card, no present.
I haven't forgotten since.
