Monday, September 11, 2006

A Tribute to the Life of 9-11 victim Peter Rodney Kellerman

(This is post is a part of the 2996 project, where bloggers are taking the opportunity to honor individually the 2996 victim's of September 11th tragedy 5 years ago)

After your teen years, people stop throwing you birthday parties, except on those milestone years, like turning 40, 50, and so forth.

As soon as you reach 40, people start throwing you parties where you have cakes with black frosting, and people give you gag-gifts like silly canes and other horribly ridiculous gifts. "Your over the hill" they say, as if you've peaked and your life is over from this point forward, and it certainly isn't getting any better.

In recent films like American Beauty, The Incredibles and Sideways characters are shown struggling through their middle life crisis. Yet, probably my favorite Mid-life Crisis character is Mitch Robbins (Billy Crystal) and his friends in the film City Slickers. There's something both sad and comical in the character struggling through their mid-life crisis.

September 11th victim Peter Rodney Kellerman would have turned 40 this year. On September 11, 2001, Peter Rodney Kellerman was the vice president and equities trader for Cantor Fitzgerald. Kellerman had a doctor's appointment on the morning of September 11th and yet it had to be rescheduled and he went to work.

I'm sure Peter, a successful Jewish man from New York had a lot of friends, and had he not been in the World Trade Center 5 years ago, I am sure his wife Robi, and their friends would have had an excellent 40th birthday party.

Perhaps a long time coworker would have given him an over the hill gift bag with anti-aging lotion, a goofy hat with rear view mirrors, and a fill in the blank senior citizens card. Other friends give him cards about being an old fart or about not remember what happened five minutes ago.

I wonder if Peter Rodney Kellerman could gather his friends and family together what he would want to tell them. It's hard to know what he'd say, but I imagine he would say something like this:

"Everyday is a gift, filled with treasures for the taking.

We have so many opportunities to love others and be loved.

And yet, we never know which day will be our last, so we need to take advantage of the time we have.

Now that doesn't mean filling our life with the excesses of wealth and worldly pleasure. It's about loving those that are around us, letting them no that we appreciate them, and giving our all to show we care.

We're never to old to love others, care for others, serve others."

Today, I take some special time to pray for the friends and family of Peter Rodney Kellerman today as they reflect on the anniversary of his death. I grieve with you on a life that was not "over the hill" but a full life, may his life be a testimony to how fortunate we are to have another day that was not promised to us.

, , , ,

17 comments:

cube said...

What a nice tribute. The more of them I read, the sadder and angrier I become that these fine people are no more.

Shekky said...

I've been fixated on reading more and more about the lives lost. Thank you for taking the time to remember Peter's life.

Southern (in)Sanity said...

Very well done, RC.

Anonymous said...

Thanks RC.

Jack at Black Coffee Reflections

Dr. Deb said...

He achieved so much so young. And perished so young as well.

This day makes me so sad. But doing this tribute helps in a big way.

You put together a lovely and wonderful tribute for Mr. Kellerman.

Geologychick said...

Saw your comment on Amazing Trips. Your post is beautiful, too!

Smooth said...

What a moving post and tribute to Peter. Thank you for sharing him with us.

Raggedy said...

Wonderful Tribute!
Thank you.
These are heartbreaking stories and difficult to read....
I am honored to be a part of this project.
Mine is posted also...

The 2996 link is down. I have a new link on my site to view the participants.

Bless you...

Carl said...

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about Peter.

Ryan said...

Thank you RC.

The Amazing Trips said...

This is beautiful and yet so sad. Another life - deliberately taken way too soon. Thanks for posting Rodney's story. He is in my heart.

Wild Thing said...

Oh my gosh if his doctor appointment had not been cancelled......... tears.........

Thank you so much for this beautiful tribute to Rodney.

It means a lot to get to know those we lost,more and more today I feel that I have lost friends.

sue @ postcards from paradise falls said...

thank you for remembering. my tribute is up at http://jedisue.blogspot.com

Jeff and Charli Lee said...

There were 2996 innocent lives lost that horrible day. Thanks for making Peter more than just another number.

Attila the Mom said...

This was really lovely, RC. Thanks so much for writing it.

Anonymous said...

He was my uncle, the last time I saw him I was 8 years old, I'll be 18 in a few months. The day still haunts me.

Lesa Pinker said...

I never met Mr. Kellerman, however I have a connection with him. After 9/11, I purchased a simple silver memorial bracelet with the name of a 9/11 victim on it. You could choose a name, or simply have one sent to you. Peter Rodney Kellerman is the name on my bracelet. I wear it every September so as never to forget the day that changed everything. Each time I look down at the bracelet, I say a prayer for Mr. Kellerman, the people who loved him, and all the people whose lives were forever changed that horrible day.