It has been 10 years

It has been 10 years. 10 years since I woke up to my favorite radio station not playing my music, but some news cast. 10 years since I laid in my makeshift bed, and wondered why Radio from Hell would be playing such a odd thing. 10 years since I thought it was a joke they were playing on listeners, some Orson  Wells war of the worlds thing.  10 years since I learned that fear is real, life is scary, and horror can really happen close to home.

I ran to TV in the living room yelling for my roommates. I turned it on, and didn't even need to channel surf to find out what happened. I stood in my jammies staring in shock, disbelief and awe as I watched planes crash and buildings fall.  I couldn't believe it. Wouldn't believe it. But I still felt a sense of relief in that it happened in the East and not here in Utah.  Little did I realize on that sunny September morning that the events of that day almost 3000 miles away would effect my own very small, very personal world in such a large and gigantic way.

I worked for Marriott hotels. I walked into a work world that was quiet you could hear a pin drop. Phones didn't ring, people didn't talk, and lives stood still. We had co-workers there. People we didn't even know, but felt connected to. We waited to hear their fate. Some cried, some panicked and most of use just felt useless. That dirty un-American word Terrorist ran rampet through the world.

Within 3 months every life in the United States was effected in some way. The travel industry failed. I was laid off from my job of 4.5 years. This was due to the decline of the hospitality business. The job market crashed and I was unemployed for a year. I struggled to find work and lived off my benefits for that year. Just as my unemployment ran out I found a temporary job with a mortgage funding company. It was stressful and hard and I was lucky to live with roommates where my rent was low.

I have spent the past 10 years reflecting on how my life was effected. I have reflected on the effect this had on lots of lives and felt so bad for those who lost loved ones in the towers, in the planes, in the Pentagon and in PA. I have watched and waited while my country in revenge attempted to hunt and locate those who's hideous minds created this horrific event. During this time I lost my apatite for horror/thriller films. I think I finally realized that there are very scary insane minds out there. I became afraid of people who can think this stuff up. 

I feel that because of this tragedy I have found a better job that I love, the man I love and have been fortunate enough to live within my means and not go over that too badly. I have a home that we are not upside down in, a car that runs wonderfully, and while my health is not the best, I still have the job that gives me insurance and helps me.

I have reflected on my blessing and the blessings of others. While I firmly believe that things happen for a reason and that although this was not something we can understand, it has brought together a nation, increased pride, and proved that the human population as a whole can be a survivor.

I recently watched the news that the man who was responsible for this terror was destroyed. I must admit that while I am sad that someone has died, I felt a minor sense of relief. How sad that someone who could not live and let live, who could not embrace someone elses differences and beliefs felt that he had to cause such grief?  Instead of understanding that we were no threat to his beliefs, he had to threaten ours. It really was a no win situation.My last wish now is that we can pull our troops out of other countries. While we need to be a support, we should now focus on the USA and getting our selves fixed so that we can be a true help to others.

It has been 10 years of living, surviving, loving and sharing. God Bless America, and all our friendly countries. May we all be safe, happy, friendly, and get along. It is 10 years past time to share some milk and cookies on the playground of life.