A Note From Joel -- Remembering 9/11 and the NBWA Convention

A Note from Joel –

Twenty-five years ago today, I was attending the National Beer Wholesalers Association convention in Las Vegas. As I rolled out of bed to get ready for a 7:30 a.m. presentation, I turned on the TV to hear a network morning show comment that it was so strange that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. It must have been an accident; perhaps the pilot had a massive heart attack. After all, a plane had flown into the Empire State Building in the late 1930s.

As I stepped into the bathroom, I heard the female anchor say, "Oh my God! There's another one. This must not be an accident." I went ahead, got dressed and went to the meeting room and later to the grand ballroom to see how NBWA would handle this. They announced the program would go on Monday and Tuesday, but would conclude with the Tuesday evening reception.

After the morning's major meeting, I stood against a pillar and watched as wholesalers and others tried to find ways to get back home. Some argued with airline customer service reps, others sought to rent cars or buses. One decided to simply buy a bus. He would worry about selling it when he got home. Later, I heard two wholesalers discuss the days events. One said United had said to call back tomorrow when they expected to resume flights. Another said he was told by a reservation agent for Southwest, "Sir, I don't care what United says. Our management says we're not flying until Friday at the earliest." He had joined the crowd at the phone banks.

Thursday evening I mentioned to a waitress that I had heard flights might resume Friday. "See if you can get on National," she said. I was able to book a flight with no problem. When we got to the airport there were lines snaking out of the terminal. There was no line for National; I was able to walk straight into the counter where I got my ticket. The flight was probably the nicest I've ever had in my life. I was home in New Jersey in time for dinner.