September 11

10 years ago, I pulled up to work in a NJ parking lot to see people acting weird. I'd been listening to an audio book, so when I finally headed into my store and some stranger came up to me crying and hugging I thought, "these NJ people get crazier each week". It didn't really occur to me that something was wrong until I walked into Walmart and CNN was on the tv's. (Walmart NEVER didn't play walmart tv) THAT'S what made me realize something horrible had happened. I tried to work and watch and ended up transfixed on those tv's with everyone else when the news came rolling out to us that a plane went down in PA. Then the map came up. Then it registered that that was the area in which my dad was working. Then panic. The the absolute need to call home. So I got a bunch of change (yeah, at that point I was still convinced cell phones wouldn't last...) and tried and tried and tried to call and couldn't get through to anyone- if it gave me anything, it was a busy signal for hours, but as often as not, I got silence. I had no way of knowing anything and was 8 hours from home. It was then that my personal angel for the day came walking outside and found me crying. She hugged me, reassured me, and calmed me when I was in a place with no friends or family and desperately needed just that. So today while I grieve for those lost and their loved ones left behind, I celebrate the heroes that came forward, including those like Anne Marie who came along with the best they could, which may have been a hug and a few nice words, but was and always will be something so much more. Not a year has gone by that I haven't given thanks for her and people like her while I mourn.