For some reason I was procrastinating packing for this trip. I was to bring essentially the same items I did last time so why was I stalling? I had great memories of the people we met and of the energy of the City to reflect upon, yet up until the last minute I had some kind of anxiety/angst. Maybe it was because I had read an article in USA Today about the toxins in the air at Ground Zero. The Front Page of the February 7th issue had a worker with a mask that was termed "pre-emptive". It looked rather scary with three different vents. Although most of the workers I saw last month wore nothing more sophisticated than a mask in a Dental office I had thought by now the dust had settled. I knew my first assignment was to be down there at St. Paul's Church and I wondered if we'd get any kind of mask at all.

We didn't. But before our shift was up I had heard my share of that WTC cough mentioned in the article. For some reason that night we worked on laborers more than NYPD or FDNY. One woman told me she had just finished two weeks worth of antibiotics and she still had the cough. She had been working seven days a week for the past four months. I repeated this back in disbelief that anyone could do any job for four months straight, let alone under toxic conditions. I was appalled at Christmas time and once again I became angry at who ever permits such working shifts to exist. She told me they wanted to see the job through and get the work done as soon as possible. But at what cost?. To cough like a smoker when you managed to avoid cigarettes your entire life. We gave her some information and some Aromatherapy products to work with. I pray that her and her coworkers seek out the help they need to clear out their lungs in the months to come.

A new site for me this deployment was the PAPD out at the airports. I visited LaGuardia first. There was a heightened alert that day which I only felt when I went into their break room. You could cut the tension with a knife. But we had a comfortable room to work in and they were very friendly. The K-9 Benji posed for a picture while we worked on his master. The remains of the dog Sirius had been uncovered over the weekend and there was some talk of that in the building. It seemed somewhat easier to speak about the dogs than the men they had lost. Everyone mourns in their own way, but when they're on the job they try to focus on the job. One guy, had a side job. We were admiring his chain/bracelet. Before the end of the evening he had gifted all of us a bracelet and offered a catalog with the e-address jewelcop.com. He's putting his daughters through college even though he looks as though he hasn't been out of school that long himself. It was fun to have some new jewelry to wear on Valentines day.

The Second Airport was Newark International and it is said to be the busiest of the three. (more even than JFK) That had a brand new facility into which they moved just two weeks prior. They joked like they were in a new school and didn't quite know there way around the halls. The Captain took myself and the "Minnesota Twins", my roommates, on a tour of the runway. While we were out there actually was a call to prepare for an incoming plane that had a shattered windshield. The anticipation built while all the trucks lined up prepared for anything.The plane landed safely but it was something to be out there and hear all the details on the radio. It came apparent to us that the Port Authority Police Department not only were trained for police duties but also had Firefighter training. We were really lucky that day to be there during a Chief's birthday. You could tell they really love each other and know each other under all kinds of circumstances.

Of course the Firehouses always have the most character. Some of them are hundred year old buildings with interior half as old. Really lived in. They cook their own food and happily share it with whoever is visiting. I like watching men cook and smile when I see meatballs as big as my fist. Some stations are louder than others. One had a human megaphone that drove as loud as he talked using every horn and siren to get us to the subway. I must say I was impressed when he made me a cup of tea and actually pronounced my name correctly. I felt right at home when I pulled out a plate and it was the exact kind I use in my own kitchen. My team mate pointed out something funny to us. He said there was noticeably less swearing going on that women were there. We were really made to feel welcome in the Bronx.( Got a glimpse of "occupied" Harlem too)

I was lucky to have warm weather on the day we took the ferry over to the landfill. Just like everyone said, It resembled a moonscape with astronaut like uniformed workers.Most of the workers were detectives who had not done this kind of work before. That was interesting to see what a smooth operation was set up for such an unforeseen disaster. It was a rather dehumanizing setting except for the posters that had the photographs of the missing that were identified at this giant lab. It was better not to put faces to the work and just concentrate on the workers themselves. I wasn't quite prepared for the moment we reached the top of the hill and I got a whiff of the stench and was quite relieved when the sun set and it was time to leave.

Last but not least , I want to say I am particularly glad CERMT attends to the workers at Safe Horizons. They are trailblazers in helping the downtrodden. We come up to the battlefield one week a month and do what we can. They face unsafe situations daily, all their working hours. We learned that they are keen not only on Massage Therapy and Aromatherapy but have pioneered in the use of acupuncture for addicts to curb cravings and engage the entire family in the recovery process. There DougE and I brainstormed about an annual visit to teach their husbands hand massage so that they could have Valentines week all year around.

With the seasonal shift to more daylight there seems to be the consensus that by the end of Spring the clean up will be wrapping up. That is on the outside only. We know in the Healing Arts that recovery will take much longer. We all can work together to help guide those in need to treatment and be as uplifting as possible in our daily lives.

Team Member
Daina Urbaitis LMBT #2686
4323 Beechnut Lane
Durham NC 27707
DUgetintouch@bigfoot.com