My Book. My Life.

A section of the World Trade Center is displayed in my hometown of O'Fallon, Missouri. I stared at this warbled, bent, destroyed metal and wondered how many lives this beam contained. It’s hard to believe 9/11 was 17 years ago. This isn’t a political or conspiracy post, so please don’t turn it into one.

A lot changed that day. People, innocent people, died. Families were shattered. Fathers never came home. Mothers made their final phone calls, praying that someone, anyone, answered so they could say their last goodbyes. Children never got another goodnight kiss or one more story. People fell from burning buildings, a desperate plea to end unimaginable, fiery suffering. People, heroes, climbed hundreds of stories to rescue everyone they could. People, heroes, took matters into their own hands and intentionally crashed a commerical jetliner into a field at high speeds, killing themselves on impact so fathers could come home. So mothers could make phone calls to loved ones. So children could get that goodnight kiss and one more story. 

9/11 is such a horrible tragedy. It isn’t about politics or conspiracies. 9/11 is about those we grieve, those who gave it all, those who signed their death certificate just by going to work one Tuesday morning. Don’t overlook today because of political climates or because it happened 17 years ago. Today is important. Today is our reminder to appreciate what we lost, what we have, and what we gained. Today, we should make strides in a positive direction. Help, don’t harm. Act responsibly. Be kind, always.

Salty and Roselle were two guide dogs who were with their owners in the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks in New York City. They each successfully guided their owners out of the burning towers before they collapsed, feats which were later recognised when they were awarded the Dickin Medal by the British charity the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals.

When the attacks occurred on September 11, 2001, Salty and his owner, Omar Rivera, found themselves on the 71st floor. Rivera was working at the headquarters of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. After refusing to leave Rivera’s side, Salty and Rivera’s supervisor, Donna Enright, led him to safety. About halfway down, a co-worker, trying to help, tried to take Salty’s lead but the dog refused to leave Omar.

Roselle was asleep under her owner’s desk on the 78th floor in Tower 1 of the World Trade Center when the attack commenced. She was awakened by the plane impacting some fifteen floors above them. Roselle calmly helped Hingson to stairwell B, despite the smoke, confusion and noise surrounding her.

Charles Lindbergh

Two souls don’t find each other by simple accident.

Jorge Luis Borges

Infatuation is when you find somebody who is absolutely perfect. Love is when you realise that they aren’t and it doesn’t matter.

Unknown

I like cancelled plans. And empty bookstores. I like rainy days and thunderstorms. And quiet coffee shops. I like messy beds and over-worn pajamas. Most of all, I like the small joys that a simple life brings.

Unknown

I hope you find someone who knows how to love you when you are sad.

Nikita Gill

Everybody has a chapter they don’t read out loud.

Unknown

I may think of you softly from time to time. But I’ll cut off my hand before I ever reach for you again.

Arthur Miller, The Crucible

vorfreude

(noun) A German untranslatable word,

vorfreude is defined as the intense euphoric sensation you experience from thinking about future plans and daydreams. This beautiful feeling is a natural reaction the human mind manifests from expectations of future pleasures and joyful anticipations, such as planning a trip, going on a date, and many other fulfilling, life-changing events.