9/11

Today is a day that will always remind me of how precious life is and that everyday is a gift. 8 years ago my life was almost terribly altered but fortunately my story has a happy ending. My dad is a 9/11 survivor. I will never forget that day and where I was when I heard the news. I think back and realize that I was on one of the last flights to arrive into Newark, NJ. Arriving into Newark at 2am I made the drive to upstate NY to visit my family. I knew I would be delayed so I canceled my work appointments in Manhattan the day before.

As I played with my nephews & niece I remember the TV going out. Then the phone started ringing and we heard the news. It was the longest morning of my life. Knowing that my dad was in the World Trade Center and worked on one of the higher floors, it didn't seem the he could have been one of the many fleeing from the towers. Fortunately he was. Bits and pieces of what he saw has come out, but he doesn't speak about that day much. I know he saw the first tower struck by a plane as he was looking out the window drinking coffee. A kind soul let him use their phone to call us.

This morning, as I was driving I looked around. Everything has gone back to normal. A car cut me off. I saw two people arguing over a parking spot. Sometimes I think we all take things for granted. I know I do. Today, I hope everyone takes a moment to reflect, stop and think. Life goes by too fast and we can't control what's going to happen next.

As I dropped my daughter off at school, the woman in the office complimented me because I am always smiling. Trust me I am not always smiling. I truly feel that at times I have so much going on, it is easy to get overwhelmed. My survival mode is to smile and just keep going! So for today, let's all smile and count our blessings.