Page 24 - Boca ViewPointe - September '20

Page 24, Viewpointe September 2020
The Price We Pay

My name is Adam Mayblum. I am alive today. I am recall seeing Harry, my head trader, doing the same several very bad back. But my friend and I offered anyway. We told
committing this to “paper” so I never forget. SO WE yards behind me. I am only 35. I have known him for over him he could lean on us. He hesitated, I don’t know why.
NEVER FORGET. I am sure that this is one of thousands 14 years. I headed into the stairwell with 2 friends. I said do you want to come or do you want us to send help
of stories that will emerge over the next several days and We were moving down very orderly in Stair Case A. very for you. He chose for help. I told him he was on the 53rd
weeks. slowly. No panic. At least not overt panic. My legs could not floor in Stairwell A and that’s what I would tell the rescue
I arrived as usual a little before 8am. My office was on stop shaking. My heart was pounding. Some nervous jokes workers. He said okay and we left.
the 87th floor of 1 World Trade Center, AKA: Tower 1, and laughter. I made a crack about ruining a brand new pair On the 44th floor my phone rang again. It was my
AKA: the North Tower. Most of my associates were in by of Merrells. Even still, they were right, my feet felt great. parents. They were hysterical. I said relax, I’m fine. My
8:30am. We were standing around, joking around, eating We all laughed. We checked our cell phones. Surprisingly, father said get out, there is third plane coming. I still did
breakfast, checking emails, and getting set for the day when there was a very good signal, but the Sprint network was not understand. I was kind of angry. What did my parents
the first plane hit just a few stories above us. I must stress jammed. I heard that the Blackberry 2 way email devices think? Like I needed some other reason to get going? I
that we did not know that it was a plane. The building worked perfectly. On the phones, 1 out of 20 dial attempts couldn’t move the thousand people in front of me any faster.
lurched violently and shook as if it were an earthquake. got through. I knew I could not reach my wife so I called I know they love me, but no one inside understood what the
People screamed. I watched out my window as the building my parents. I told them what happened and that we were all
seemed to move 10 to 20 feet in each direction. It rumbled okay and on the way down. Soon, my sister in law reached The Price We Pay on page 25
and shook long enough for me to get my wits about myself me. I told her we were fine
and grab a co-worker and seek shelter under a doorway. and moving down. I believe
Light fixtures and parts of the ceiling collapsed. The that was about the 65th floor.
kitchen was destroyed. We were certain that it was a bomb. We were bored and nervous. I
We looked out the windows. Reams of paper were flying called my friend Angel in San how to identify a
everywhere, like a ticker tape parade. I looked down at the Francisco. I knew he would
street. I could see people in Battery Park City looking up. be watching. He was amazed
Smoke started billowing in through the holes in the ceiling. I was on the phone. He told census taker
I believe that there were 13 of us. me to get out that there was
We did not panic. I can only assume that we thought that another plane on its way. I did To Ensure EVERYONE is counted, census takers are visiting
the worst was over. The building was standing and we were not know what he was talking households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census
shaken but alive. We checked the halls. The smoke was thick about. By now the second to collect their responses in person.
and white and did not smell like I imagined smoke should plane had struck Tower 2. We
smell. Not like your BBQ or your fireplace or even a bonfire. were so deep into the middle ppe mask
The phones were working. My wife had taken our 9 month of our building that we did not All Census takers are
old for his check up. I called my nanny at home and told hear or feel anything. We had required to wear a
PPE mask.
her to page my wife, tell her that a bomb went off, I was ok, no idea what was really going
and on my way out. I grabbed my laptop. Took off my tee on. We kept making way for
shirt and ripped it into 3 pieces. Soaked it in water. Gave 2 wounded to go down ahead 2020 census badge
Census employees will
pieces to my friends. Tied my piece around my face to act of us. Not many of them, possess an authentic work
badge with logo and
as an air filter. And we all started moving to the staircase. just a few. No one seemed employee’s name.
One of my dearest friends said that he was staying until seriously wounded. Just some
the police or firemen came to get him. In the halls there cuts and scrapes. Everyone 2020 census phone
were tiny fires and sparks. The ceiling had collapsed in the cooperated. Everyone was a Census employees will
men’s bathroom. It was gone along with anyone who may hero yesterday. No questions possess an iPhone ® with
Census logo on back.
have been in there. We did not go in to look. We missed asked. I had co-workers in
the staircase on the first run and had to double back. Once another office on the 77th
NOTICE OF VISIT:
in the staircase we picked up fire extinguishers just in case. floor. I tried dozens of times If no one is home, census takers U.S. census tote bag
On the 85th floor a brave associate of mine and I headed to get them on their cell will leave a Notice of Visit with Census employees will
carry a tote bag with the
back up to our office to drag out my partner who stayed phones or office lines. It was info on how to respond. Census logo on it.
behind. There was no air, just white smoke. We made the futile. Later I found that they
rounds through the office calling his name. No response. were alive. One of the many
He must have succumbed to the smoke. We left defeated miracles on a day of tragedy.
in our efforts and made our way back to the stairwell. We On the 53rd floor we came Respond TODAY at
proceeded to the 78th floor where we had to change over across a very heavyset man MY2020CENSUS.GOV
to a different stairwell. 78 is the main junction to switch to sitting on the stairs. I asked 1-844-330-2020 (English)
the upper floors. I expected to see more people. There were if he needed help or was he or 1-844-468-3030 (Spanish)
some 50 to 60 more. Not enough. Wires and fires all over just resting. He needed help.
the place. Smoke too. A brave man was fighting a fire with I knew I would have trouble
the emergency hose. I stopped with two friends to make sure carrying him because I have a
that everyone from our office was accounted for. We ushered
them and confused people into the stairwell. In retrospect, I

Vehicle Information

If you have purchased a new vehicle within the
past 6 months, please make sure the Boca Pointe
Community Association management office has a
copy of your current vehicle registration on file.
Your gate transponder is linked to your vehicle so it
is important that we have accurate information in our
system. Please fax it to (561) 395-5936 or email it to
admin@bocapointe.com.
Thank you for your cooperation!

BPCA Management team 
Eye Examinations by an Independent Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Robert Steven Horowitz

Are You Watching Dr. Horowitz has practiced optometry in South Florida since 1981

Your Speed? European Frames • Sunglasses • Contact Lenses

MoSt inSurancES accEPtED
Please obey all posted speed limit signs throughout
Boca Pointe for the safety of WE havE rEOpEnED WiTh nEW hOurS:
our residents. As a reminder, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday thru Friday
the speed limits are as follows: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday
Boca Pointe Drive 30mph
Via de Sonrisa del Norte
25mph 100 S. Military Trail Suite 6
Promenade Drive 20mph Deerfield Beach • 954-571-2022
SPEEDING FINES ARE www.2020Optical.com
NOW BEING ENFORCED!! 
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