The narrator explains that his date of birth is 11 September 1958 and that he is the first child of Stan and Marilu Eder, who were respectively 18 and 19 years old when he was born. He also adds that his childhood takes place in a family of five children and that for years he was known as the Love Child.
At 14 years old, on 11 September 1972, he links his day to running by describing the morning of fishing with his father at Rock Lake, followed by his first cross-country race in the afternoon. This is a 2-mile race at De Smet Jesuit Prep, made up of two laps.
The text then goes on to detail a period of regular training: before the summer of his final year before junior, he says he runs 100 to 120 miles per week, with his mother supervising. She checks the routes and signs a daily note to confirm that he has completed his training.
The heart of the story comes back to 11 September 2001: the narrator drops off their son Adam at Junior High, picks up bagels for him and his wife, and listens to the radio when the first plane hits the Twin Towers and then the second. At that point, he tells himself it is an attack and becomes particularly concerned about a photographer friend, Victor Sailer, a firefighter who was supposed to be in the towers.
Finally, he presents a personal way of observing each anniversary: for each 9/11, he says he takes time to thank the Creator for each day, each minute and each laugh, and then to cry on this planet. He concludes by saying he is optimistic as he enters his 68th year and after visiting 75 countries, taking part in 7 Olympic Games and 17 World Championships.
