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I worked at Cantor Fitzgerald at the Chicago Board of Trade. I knew too many former colleagues that didn't make it. Had been to the Cantor offices at the top of the WTC many times. I'll think of them and there families, but mostly I'll think of David Barkway a great guy who worked at Nesbitt Burns in Toronto and just happened to be at the WTC for a client meeting. 

We got to know one another as he was a client, but a really great guy. we we're about the same age and we discovered we were both big Tragically Hip fans. He told me a story about a time when he was at a wedding in Canada where the groom was best friends of one of the band members so the band played his wedding. 

After the reception had ended an afterparty started in one of the suites and the band was there. Everybody was hanging out partying and shooting the shite. Discussion turned to the Tragically Hip's music and David wanted to know what the song New Orleans is Sinking was really about. 

The lead singer Gordie Downie starts telling a story about how New Orleans is 5 feet below the sea level when his band mates call bullshite and tell the "real" story. 

What the song is really about is Gordie had dropped acid and was tripping his brains out. He was on Bourbon when he fell down with his part of his face in a puddle (we all know how gross that water if you can even call it that was), anyway he looked up and the visual he got because of the acid looked like the buildings were sinking or melting. The puddle was where he didn't know how to swim he was tripping 

"My memory is muddy what's this river I'm in New Orleans is sinking and I don't want to swim."

His band mates pick him up and they walk down to the river by Cafe du Monde 

"I had My hand in the river 
My feet back up on the banks 
Looked up to the lord above and said hey man thanks 
Some time I fell so good I gotta scream 
She says Gordie baby I know exactly what you mean 
She said, she said I swear to god she said" 

So Dave shares this awesome story about one of my favorite bands and we hit it off. 

He's in NY on 9/11 for the client meeting at the WTC and he brought his wife with him so they could spend the weekend in NYC. She obviously doesn't go to a work meeting and hangs back at the hotel. Needless to say her world changed that day as Dave never made it back to the hotel. 

The years go by and the Hip come to Chicago to play a gig at the House of Blues. I go to the show but before I wanted to grab some jambalaya at a cajun restaurant 2 blocks away from the HOB. I belly up to the bar and order when the drummer and bassist walk in and sit next to me. Since these guys aren't really that popular in the US they don't get recognized. I introduce myself tell them I'm a big fan blah, blah, blah.. I then ask about the meaning of New Orleans is sinking. Johnny Fay the drummer rolls his eyes and turns back to the bar and his beer leaving Gord Sinclair the bassist to answer my question. He starts with the 5 feet under sea level story when I interrupt and tell him what Barky (Dave's nickname) told me. Johnny and Gord sit there for a second with there mouths open when Johnny asks how in the frick I know this. I tell them about Dave and 9/11. It was a cool moment. They cruise and I go to the show. It's kicking and I have a good head buzz at this point. Gordie Downs the lead singer quiets the crowd and says this one is for Barky, they then launch into New Orleans is Sinking. I stood there crying in the middle of the crowd. 

Dave - you are a great friend and a better person. My life is much better because of your friendship. I miss you greatly. Godspeed my friend, Godspeed

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