My blog today is about Michael M. Taylor, a man I don't know. His name was provided to me by Project 2996.

Founded two years ago, Project 2996 pays tribute to the victims of 9/11 by asking bloggers to blog about a victim and then post the written tribute on September 11.  A blogger can choose a specific person or, as in my case, write about a person that the website selects.

Michael ("Mouse") Taylor was 42 years old when the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center, his workplace.   He grew up in Pennsylvania, was a graduate of Duke University and UCLA, and was working as a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald when his life was tragically cut short.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his parents, a brother, two sisters, and a fiancee. 

There is one story about him that I particularly like.  In the 90's, he bought a Porsche Carrera.  The car was a stickshift, but he didn't drive stick.   So, he got his buddy, a professional NASCAR driver, to teach him how to drive stick in exchange for golf lessons.    Why do I like that story?  First, it shows that Mr. Taylor had great taste in cars.  (The Porsche Carrera just happens to be my dream car.)  Second, he had the good sense to know that the only way to drive a Porsche is by stickshift. 

I wish that I had more time to write this tribute.  As it happens, I only found out about Project 2996 at around 5:30 p.m. on September 10 and am writing this at 11:10 p.m. so that I can post it on September 11.

The bits and pieces I've related to you about Mr. Taylor were gleaned from other sources.  In addition to the nytimes.com article linked to above, here are the other sources I found:

Duke Magazine 

Elsie's Yoga Class  (Seriously -- Elsie blogged about Mr. Taylor as part of the 2006 Project 2996)

There is a poem by Pearl Cleage called We Speak Your Names.  It was recited as part of Oprah's Legends Ball.  Although the poem was recited in order to pay tribute to African-American women pioneers, the power of the poem was in their names -- after every verse, the names of several women were pronounced slowly and solemnly.   In a single name, there was weight, substance -- reverence.

So today, on September 11, 2008 -- MICHAEL M. TAYLOR -- I speak your name.

*****

To see a list of the 2008 bloggers and the people they have chosen to honor and to learn more about Project 2996, click here.

H/T to Cindy Kilkenny at Fairly Conservative for the info on Project 2996.