September 11th

This morning I thought that I would reflect on September 11th, 2001 and the last 10 years since that fateful day.

September 11, 2001
This was my first day on my own in college. I had spent the last couple of days moving into my dorm room at Wright State University with my room mate and high school friend  Annie Felix. We were just waking up, watching Regis and Kelly when news broke in that a commercial airliner had crashed into one of the twin towers.

I remember talking with Annie and our Suite mates about how dumb that was, and the pilot must have really been an idiot. We were planning out the rest of our day, eating cereal and sitting on our beds when we both saw the second plane go into the second tower. Our hearts dropped. We both got on the phone with our parents. We jumped in the shower and we made plans to go home.

By the time we were ready to go the pentegon had been hit. We were at Wright State University which sits right next to Wright Patterson Air Force base.  We were terrified. I recruited a couple of other girls I knew from home and before long we were in my Buick racing down 675 towards Cincinnati on the most beautiful day I ever remember.

Lots changed within a day, just 3 months earlier I was sitting in St Peter in Chains Cathedral celebrating my High School graduation. We all became much more aware. I remember crying for all of the people I didn't know. Crying for wives and children, policemen and firefighters and I cried for myself and my family because there was so much I didn't understand.

10 years later I am a completely different person thanI was on September 11, 2001. 

I suffered some of the greatest personal loss I ever endured with the loss of Mr. Ben Price and later the death of my grandma Dorothy Hensler.

I gained great confidence and experience through my involvement with Alpha Xi Delta, American Humanics and volunteering with the American Diabetes Association.

I graduated from Wright State University with a BS in Public Administration and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management.

I bought my first house with my best friend.

I married my best friend.

I had 2 beautiful children with my best friend.

I started Saints Helping Saints with a handful of the most genuine and selfless women I have ever known and I can say I would never have gotten to know.

I am not the same person I was 10 years ago, just as this country isn't the same as it was 10 years ago. We are all more aware. We are all more tolerant. We are all more unified and we are all more proud to be Americans.

So, here I sit 10 years later. Living in my mom's basement with my family of 4 and preparing for the next one. I just started a new job and we are starting a new life in a new place, but it all feels like home.

Go tell John, we are back at home and ready for whatever the next 10 years bring.