We took this picture about a week after my son was born, well after 9/11 as you can see. However, it is very different than I remember it. I was born in NJ, but raised in GA from 3rd grade through college. I moved back to Jersey in 1988, but didn't live there long. However, while there I went into the city several times, many to just walk around and take in the culture. I loved visiting NY and always will.
In 1996, I moved to Boston and then in '97 to Chesapeake, VA. While I lived in Chesapeake, I met my husband and in '99 we were transferred to New Orleans. In November of '99, I had my second child, my first with my husband. I had this wonderful job, working as a real estate assistant for an amazing agent in New Orleans, Charlotte Joint-Rivet. She let me bring my child to work with me and stay in a play pen next to my desk.
The morning of September 11, 2001, I was at work at my desk with my oldest in school and my youngest now at child care. Charlotte was out of town and I wasn't feeling well. I headed home for the day. I was crossing out of the area where Charlotte lived onto 10 when I received a call from my child care center telling me that the base we lived on was going to be closing and that I needed to come pick up my child. I hadn't even heard anything about the attack to the first tower. I was home and in my living room shortly after the second attack, as I was catching replay's on the TV.
I called my mother to check on all of my family. I was concerned about my cousin, whom I thought worked in the towers for Paine Webber. Thankfully, I was incorrect. She worked across the Hudson from it. I did not know anyone personally who was lost in this devastation, but I know people who do. My heart ached for them!
Seeing this all again on TV today, makes me ache all over again. See, a lot of my life has changed since this day. I lost my best friend and boss's friendship, I have lost my mother, my father-in-law, my sister-in-law, my "brother-in-law", my connection with my brothers, my connection with my Uncle and his children, my Grandmother, I broke both of my ankles, had gallbladder surgery, lost my home to foreclosure, declared bankruptcy, my brother has had cancer, his wife (my sister-in-law) has cancer, my other sister-in-law has cancer, I have lived through Hurricane Irene and now the flood of my town. I mention all this to say, I am still alive and remembering that God will never give us more than we can handle even when it feels like we can't handle anymore.
I know those families felt like they couldn't take anymore, but there is a reason for everything, even when we can't see the reason. I am not here to say that I know the reason for this devastation, as I'm sure the reason is different for each of us. For me, I am still trying to find the reason that God has put problem after problem in front of me. But, I'm not giving up on my future. I know God has a reason that I'm here and someday I will find it. Right now, I know I am here to be a mom and wife to my children and husband.
I hope this didn't ramble too much. Where were you on 9/11? What has life since then taught you?
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