Miami Carol City Senior High School

NINE ELEVEN REMEMBERED

2013-09-11T12:44:07-04:00

To all-

Today is the 12th anniversary of the attacks on the United States at the World Trade Center in NYC and the Pentagon in DC. Lest we not forget, many people also died when one of the 4 hijacked planes crashed in a field in rural PA.

I visited the chapel at my church, United Church of Gainesville, today to light candles and pray for the souls of those who were killed or injured, including the police and firefighters, and all the families and friends of those who perished.

I remember exactly where I was when I heard the horrible news. I had stopped at the home architectural office in Delray Beach to pick up blueprints and other documents, which needed to be taken to the jobsite in Palm Beach. As I was getting back in my car, my jobsite friend, Craig, was driving up, he shouted through the car window, "Hey, Bruce, did you hear that a plane just crashed into the WTC towers? It was on the Howard Stern radio show!"

I drove to the jobsite, and soon my supervisor's roommate brought a small tv there. We all sat watching, absolutely stunned by what was happening. By then the second tower had been hit. Then they said another plane had struck the Pentagon, and there was a rumor a bomb had gone off at the State Department.

Soon, my other co-worker friend there said, "Hey, I only see one tower standing!" We all watched wide-eyed, and he was right! You know, we never did much work at all that entire day, even when the boss walked in. We were absolutely mesmerized, thinking our country was under attack and headed to war. I felt so bad for the thousands of people killed and injured, and the massive destruction caused by the hijackers. Southern Manhattan seemed to be in absolute smoky chaos.

As I found out more about this, I was angry at Dubya Bush, who remained in an elementary classroom in Sarasota, FL, several minutes after he KNEW we were under attack, instead of getting his ass going, and acting like the "Chief Executive and "Leader of the Free World" he was supposed to be (not that he was really ELECTED, but that's a WHOLE 'nother story, and I won't get into that here).

That night, it was the QUIETEST night I can remember in my life. All the planes in the US had been grounded, and there were no cars driving past our house. Everyone must have been glued to their tv sets, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

As time went by, more details came out, rumors were quashed, and facts were finally uncovered. Again I was angry, because we went after Saddam Hussein in Iraq, mainly because Dubya wanted to get him back for the Persian Gulf War that W's father had endured. It wasn't a totally BAD idea, since Saddam liked to use human shields, and started hundreds of oil well fires upon leaving Kuwait. But isn't wasn't the BEST or most APPROPRIATE idea, seeing as how 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis!

But because we depend so much on Saudi Arabian OIL and therefore they are our ALLIES, we couldn't possibly attack them and expect to get the OIL we so desperately depend on.

Well, at least OBAMA got OSAMA, but it took until 2012 to do it.

My second wife, Judy, and I visited the WTC site in December 2002. By then, it was cleared of debris and was just a huge, fenced-in, smooth dirt surface. There were informational panels for visitors to look at. The Catholic church across the street still had signs posted by people who at one time were searching for friends and loved ones. There were still flowers laid there too. Of course, in the old American entrepreneurial spirit, there were hawkers selling all kinds of 9/11 books and souvenirs. A huge American flag hung from an adjacent building. with an equally large sign below it saying, "WE WILL NEVER FORGET."

But I wonder, will we really REMEMBER? We ALWAYS tend to jump quickly to the next issue or crisis in this country, our attention span is quite short.

Of course, everyone can recall where they were when 9/11 happened. An earlier generation remembers the JFK assassination. Before that, it was Pearl Harbor. BTW, George Bush (not Dubya) once made a speech on SEPTEMBER 7th, and wondered out loud, if anyone remembered that it was Pearl Harbor Day? I'll bet his aides got a real good laugh over THAT one, and had to do quite a bit of DAMAGE CONTROL as a result of his unbelievable gaffe. And we ELECTED this guy?

NOW, after losing thousands of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are contemplating military action in Syria. Our leaders often fail to realize that the Middle East has been a continual POWDER KEG for decades, ever since Israel became a state, or even before that, just waiting for a spark like that to send us all into World War 3! We attack Syria, the other Arab countries come to its defense, Iran gets mad and fires a missile (or a nuclear device, if they have it, and nobody really knows for sure) at Israel, and all ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE!

Food for thought, before we once again decide to embark on a very slippery slope....

-Bruce
352-239-1363

1609 NW 29 Road, #141-G

Gainesville, FL 32605

brucefrendahl@aol.com

Bill Lee

2012-03-19T12:06:57-04:00

To all MCC '70 alumni-- Bill Lee passed away 3/16/12 of pancreatic cancer. More information can be found on his profile page and his name will be added to the "In Memory" section of the website shortly.

Friday Night Lights

2010-09-04T11:58:33-04:00

Friday Night Lights

By David Roth

For the Carol City Chiefs

Class of 1971

Orange and black.

Purple and White.

War bonnets and longboats.

Forty-four young men,

eighteen girls

in short, tight skirts,

two marching bands

enter the stadium.

Kickoff.

Pom-poms.

Back flips, leaping splits.

Cameras and flashbulbs

fired by proud family members.

Crackly PA system

“And he…

might…

just…

go…

all…

the…

way!”

Halftime!

Four quarters.

Forty-eight minutes.

Passes, catches, half back options

Fourth and goal.

Touchdown!

Forty-four young men,

eighteen girls

in short, tight skirts,

two marching bands

leave the field.

Twenty-two with helmets raised.

Twenty-two with shoulders drooped.

Cheers…

…tears.

Lights out.

MCC SUN & SURF

2010-03-19T22:19:41-04:00

Dania Beach Honoria Starting fires with Old Grandad Whiskey Creek Bal Harbor Shops.... Anyone remember that?

MCC BAND

2010-03-19T22:14:34-04:00

Willie Golden.... where are you???

RE: Haulover Beach

2010-02-09T21:28:21-04:00

Bruce,

You missed your calling, Your poetry is so beautiful. I will send you some of mine. It was published in a poetry coffee table edition. In fact two were published.

You can actually go to poetry and look it up by my name, "I LOOKED INTO THE MIRROR' IS ONE OF THEM, YOU MIGHT ENJOY IT.

I HAVE A FEELING YOU ARE A ROMANTIC GUY. DO YOU WARE YOU HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE. mAYBE THAT IS WHY I REALLY WANT TO CONNECT WITH YOU. WHO KNOWS.

Lost and found

2010-01-26T14:40:22-04:00

Sent across the miles, the years and the tears.

One word,"Unconditional."

RE: Memorabilia

2010-01-04T12:15:58-04:00

Rick--

Great memorabilia! Since I didn't make it to the Senior Prom, it was nice to see the invitation.

Also, the article regarding the wrestling team brought back a memory. When Florence Snyder and the rest of her staff put together the Smoke Signal, it often fell to me to come up with the headlines for the stories, especially for sports. One time, I came up with a good one for the wrestling team's recent triumphs-- it went like this-- "WRESTLERS RATE-- TAKE THIRD STRAIGHT AT STATE!" LOL

--Bruce Frendahl

Memorabilia

2010-01-02T23:37:56-04:00

Denise is posting a memorabilia challenge. She has some items still in good shape after 40 years. Can you do better? Let's see what you have got...

MCC Phantom

1970 poem

2009-12-27T22:41:49-04:00

I seek the quiet of the night

the darkness of the skies

to hide the troubles of my soul

and tears from loving eyes

I cherished all my time with you

each moment lingered on

but now you turn and walk away

my love -my life- is gone

But someday you’ll come back to me

to wipe away my tears

for then will love redeem the time

I spent in lonely years.

I Seek The Quiet Of The Night

MCC Alma Mater

2009-12-27T21:37:35-04:00

Far as the widest reaches

Great as the sky above

Bright as the star that shines through the night

As the sun so strong is thy light

Lead us oh alma mater

Down pathways of our youth

Hail to thee beloved alma mater

Guardian of all truth

Haulover Beach

2009-12-27T21:18:14-04:00

October 2000

By Bruce Frendahl

"Heart Of Haulover"

Down to the beach I ventured again

Just as a child did I back then

Seeking solitude…peace…joy

Recalling misty memories as a boy

Casting off garments I had properly worn

To be God’s creature that I was born

Now naked, now one with my Creator I

Saw His natural world through my eye

But in truth something greater now was freed

Than merely skin, but spirit and creed

For I had found a holy place

A granted prayer, my spiritual space

God’s shining face warmed my hand

As I glimpsed "the world in a grain of sand"

His cooling waters bathed my aching soul

Vulnerable, too now was I whole

Angel’s breath in soft summer breeze

His children play…doze…gaze…as they please

Distant horizon brought wave after salty wave

Like lessons of life I would reverently save

His splendors surround me, in my sandy pew

I now view this infinite universe anew

Pristine cathedral by the sea, in the sun

Drew us together, one by one

Colors, tongues, ages, all walks of life

All here to unburden stress and strife

Down to the shore we went once more

Like gulls on wing, our spirits did soar

Back to my past where I had begun

To eternal womb, blessed with freedom won

Journey’s end at this beach of heavenly love

With His guiding light shining down from above.

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