What a strange year it has been. On September 10, 2001 the most important thing that was on my mind was that ESPN had way too many pop-up ads. I was also still chuckling over the movie “Rat Race” which I had just seen. Five days earlier, I was hired by Disney to start on Oct. 6. I was nervous about my tryout for “The Weakest Link” to be held on September 11, and I was looking forward to a day at the LA County Fair. In the back of my mind, I was thinking of getting into the Tour Guide business. Something I think I would be good at, plus a great way to travel around the world. All that would change the following morning.
Susie rang the phone around 6 or 7 in the morning. I can always count on a call from her when something like an earthquake happens. I remember waking up to the phone and hearing that the TV was on. Roger occasionally will have the TV on in the morning, but something was amiss. I stumbled out of bed and into the horror of what we all witnessed that day. I think the first tower had already collapsed and the second one was still there.
I look back at that day and some of the entries that followed. I watched TV a lot (well being unemployed there was not much else to do). At the time, I didn’t think it affected me more than any other disaster normally does, but looking back I realize it was different. I didn’t sleep well for months. My whole plan of getting into the tourism industry was shot. Even a backup plan working for an airline seemed far out of reach. A year later, we still haven’t moved. I have only been on a plane once since that fateful day – and that was to interview for Yahoo. My annual birthday party almost didn’t happen, more than a month later, not many people were in the partying mood. It wasn’t until mid January, that things slowly started to return to normal.
So here it is a year later. I feel like a whole year has just flitted by. I find myself in basically the same position as I was last year – still looking for a new apartment and a better job. Next month, I will turn 30, and it is my goal to make next year more productive (really not that hard when you think of it). I also am going to work on my relationships. I think every level of relationship in my life has suffered the last year, and I resolve to make it up to everyone.
As you remember September 11, think of all the people who lost their lives and how it has changed or not changed your way of life. Don’t dwell on the negative, but use this event and create positive from it.
9-11-2001