Thankful

This week, I have started a few blog posts related to funny stories from the weekend, my dogs, my klutziness, and other assorted encounters I've had recently.  But in the back of my head, I know what I really want to do is write something related to 9/11.

I started to just post an email that I wrote to my family and friends 2 days after 9/11/01 but it was (a) too long and (b) just a little too raw, still, for me to do it. 

If you're a regular reader, you may already know that I was in the middle of chemotherapy (but not actually getting chemo that day) and working in Manhattan when two planes flew into the Twin Towers just a few short blocks from my office.

Growing up, I never thought I'd live or work in the New York City area.  So it's pretty ironic that it is one of the places that I feel most connected to. I guess it's natural considering everything that happened in my life in the 3 1/2 years that I lived there.

I know my story and experience is one among billions, and you've probably seen or read a few of them this week as they are all over the TV and news.  If you were alive and old enough to remember that day, it is impossible to not have your own story.  And even though I rarely have a problem speaking my mind, I find it difficult to find the words that I want to say in this particular blog post.

I remember every thought and feeling I had that day. 

Of course there were the big memories of sights, sounds and smells that I won't forget.  But, whether it's a self-defense mechanism or not, I also distinctly remember the little things that made me smile, gave me some hope and reminded me to be thankful for the things that I had.

Another theme that you'll probably notice in this blog is that I get really attached to my friends.  I am forever tied to the ones that I worked with that day who, while time and distance have lead us to not communicate often anymore, I will always consider a huge and special part of my life. Not only did I experience every second of the morning of 9/11/01 with them, but they were also there for me in so many ways during my 8 months of chemo. While I try not to use people's real names on this blog, I can't help but thank them by their true (first only) names here, just in case they read this:

Tiff, Rob, Pete, Russ, Steve and especially my buddy Billy.

We've all moved on with life but I know that as long as I live I will never forget them.

So instead of re-living and expressing my thoughts and feelings from that day and the days and weeks afterwards, I'll simply say that I am so thankful for life, love and friendship. We shouldn't need a tragedy or an anniversary of a tragedy to remind us that life is so very short.

Live, laugh, love.

Taken June 2001 when some great friends who came to visit right after I was diagnosed and we snapped this pic from the park in Hoboken with lower Manhattan in the background.