September 11 - five years ago

5 years, 60 months, 1825 days ago I was sitting at my desk squaring things away and would leave with a co-workers for an in-service training down in Abington, VA. We got as far as Roanoke and turned back for home. The sky was bright blue but empty; the interstate quiet and carless but for us. We devised an emergency family plan the next day....a "what if" plan so we would know where to meet if another attack happened. The kids were young. My oldest was in 2nd grade in 2001. I've had co-workers leave, both my parents have passed away since. My husband's got a newer job. My youngest is in 4th grade now and I hate to say I've gained 40 pounds in the past 5 years. Today I vow to take it off! You read it here first!

On 9/11/01 my Dad was in a NY hospital having a pacemaker "installed." Around 11am I tried to call him and the phone recording said...."do to a tornado in the calling area you are trying to reach please try again later." Needless to say it was a scary call. I did reach Dad later. He said he was on a gurney in a hallway when personnel came running saying they might have to move all patients not in immediate danger to a hospital further out on Long Island so this hospital could be used for triage....but sadly we know there wasn't any need for triage when the towers both fell.

Down here in VA so close to the largest military complex in the world, having friends working at the Pentagon and a NYer at heart I felt it all three ways...lots has happended since. Do I feel safer? A bit.

I put the American flag up this morning.