12 years ago today, I was asleep in my old bedroom at my parents house. I was 28 years old, and staying with them to prepare for my wedding. It was only 4 days away. My mom came running into my room and told me to hurry and turn on the tv. I couldn't believe my eyes as I saw footage of a plane flying into the World Trade Center. Then, as I was sitting there, I said "is that a second plane?" It was.
I am not thankful that these events took place, but I am thankful for what they taught me. When faced with crisis and tragedy, our nation comes together like none other. People reaching out to other people, working to help others is what it's all about. When your eyes are focused on yourself, you miss the message of reaching out to your neighbor. I was so focused on my wedding, and whether or not it would even happen in the days that followed that I couldn't even focus on what others were going through.
We spent a lot of time during our honeymoon watching footage on the news channels. We were so engrossed in what was going on in the world. At one point, we just decided that we HAD to turn it off so we could enjoy our first week as a married couple. I am thankful that Todd was not at the Boston airport that day. He was scheduled to fly out the next day out of Boston to Houston. I am sure I would have been much more of a mess if he had been flying. I am thankful that he and his parents made it to the wedding, the day of, just in time for the ceremony. I am thankful that he loved me enough to travel by bus, without sleep for 48 hours just to be there in time.
I think back on all the events of September 11, and I can't help but be thankful for the good things that came out of the tragic stories. We will never forget.
