Category Archives: semi-fiction

A DAY FAR FROM NORMAL by Peter Nolan Smith

September 11, 2024 – 1:50 am

That morning a jet roared above the East Village. I opened my eyes. Lots of planes and helicopters flew over Manhattan. None of them ever this low or fast or loud. Thirty seconds later my apartment windows shook with a muffled thud that sounded more a boom than a crash. The children from the day-care […]

By Peter | Also posted in NEW YORK | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

RAIN 9/10/2001 by Peter Nolan Smith

September 10, 2024 – 6:17 pm

September 10, 2001 was a rainy day in New York and the Weather Channel predicted precipitation throughout the afternoon. .3 inches humid and wet. I exited from my East 10th Street apartment at 9.13 and headed toward Velseka’s on 2nd Avenue. My breakfast of a bagel and coffee came to $2.11. I gave the waiter […]

By Peter | Also posted in 2000s, Bet On Crazy, history, NEW YORK | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

NO SWIMMING ALLOWED by Peter Nolan Smith

September 9, 2024 – 10:12 am

The weather forecast predicted a sultry summer day for September 7, 2001. My friend Alia had transported a Porsche Boxer from the UK and her high-octane convertible awaited clearance at the Newark Customs. The British diplomat asked me to accompany her to the Jersey docks and I agreed on the stipulation that we drove the […]

By Peter | Also posted in cars, NEW YORK | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

A FINE DAY FOR SAILING by Peter Nolan Smith

August 30, 2024 – 11:17 am

My grandmother hailed from County Mayo in Ireland. Her last name was Walsh. At the age of fourteen Nana traveled to Boston by ship. Most of the other passengers were cattle. “It was an awful crossing. Storms most of the way. We sailed in the Year of the Crow,” she told her grandchildren in her […]

By Peter | Also posted in 60s, boston, family, sea, youth | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

The SS Showboat Mayflower Nantasket

August 30, 2024 – 3:11 am

From 2012 A fleet of side wheel steamers plied the waters of Boston harbor in the early part of the 20th Century. The flotilla was reduced to one by a fire in 1919. The Mayflower remained in service until 1948. After its decommission its new owner had the white-hulled ship hauled close to shore several […]

By Peter | Also posted in 60s, boston, cars, New England, sea, youth | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)