Last Saturday, I participated in my first ever Take Steps, Be Heard Crohn’s and Colitis walk.  I was excited. Through the generosity of family friends, I raised $295.00.  The big day rolled around.  The skies were threatening rain, but it only sprinkled.  When we got downtown to the civic plaza it was empty.  There were people there, but I was expecting a whole lot more.  So despite the very low turnout, I was determined to make the best of the day. I met the new executive director for the southwest chapters.  He seemed really nice.  He has Ulcerative Colitis.  He told me he is passionate about finding a cure for the diseases that we at times make us suffer.  I was impressed.  After the walk in which myself, my husband and boys walked at the pack of the small group, there were sandwiches and chips.  There was a lot of food leftover.  Obviously a lot more people were expected.  The executive director asked if I knew of any group that could use the sandwiches.  I said well sure.  We could give them to the homeless.  Unfortunately, there is a large homeless population in Albuquerque.  He looked at me and said don’t feed the animals.  I was shocked.  I just stood there.  I didn’t know what to say.  I said well we usually try to help as much as we can.  I think he knew what he said was not pc and if he was making a joke it wasn’t funny.  After that comment, I just wanted to get out of there.  I took the sandwiches and the box of chips and we drove down to the Rescue Mission.  My husband went inside and asked if they could use them.  They said of course.  There were men, women and children waiting for dinner.  Two kids ran up to him and asked if they could have some of the food.  Those were the animals the executive director was talking about.  I kick myself that I didn’t say something.  I just couldn’t get past it.  After two days, I finally emailed the national walk coordinator whom I met at the walk.  I got a quick response. She was at another walk in North Carolina, however, she is going to call me.   I just can’t imagine anyone let alone an executive director of a non profit organization saying something so insensitive.  Did I do the right thing? What would you have done?

On my way to work at the Medical Society of New Jersey that morning of September 11th, I was zooming up I-95 heading to Trenton, New Jersey.  I remember thinking to myself what a beautiful day.  It was the perfect day.  The sky was so blue and there was not a cloud in the sky.  I got to my office and someone told me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.  I thought it had to be a small plane like a Piper Cub or something.  Out of curiosity, I made my way down to the break room where a TV was showing the building.  As my co-workers and I stood there watching, a second plane hit the other tower less than an hour away from us.  We all stood there transfixed.  My brain was racing trying to figure out what was going happening.  We all slowly went back to our offices.  Sometime later, my husband called me.  He told me the Pentagon had been hit, too.  Nothing made sense.  He also told me that I might not be able to get home that night.  We lived on an Air Force Base and the base was in lock down. Later in the afternoon, we heard about Flight 93 crashing into a field in Pennsylvania.   It was so hard to make it through the day.  Somehow we all did.  I made my way back down I-95.  I was able to make it home that night, but not after having my car searched and my ID scrutinized.  When I drove down the tree lined street of the main housing area it struck me that no one was outside.  It was so quiet.  We usually could hear the airplanes taking off, but that day the runway was silent.  Giving my husband and stepdaughter a hug, I sank into the couch.  For the first time that day, I cried.  I cried for the people killed and their families.  I cried for my country, the United States of America.  I felt hopeless. I wanted to go and help comfort those who were missing love ones.  The only thing I could do was pray.

Ten years ago today, 9/11 occurred.  To me it feels like yesterday.  The emotions that I felt, I still feel.  It is so important for us as a nation to remember this day.  It is a day of remembrance and reflection.  We need to teach our children about this day.  There are some that say 9/11 is a day of service, but it is not.  It is a day of remembrance and always should be. Tomorrow, 9/12, when our country forever changed, is a day of service.  Let us not forget how we felt on 9/11, but also don’t forget how you felt on 9/12.  As we remember and reflect, we grow stronger in our resolve to make the United States remain the greatest country on Earth.