Big Sunday

Greetings all,
Today, Sunday September 11, 2011, is a very significant date. As I woke and went upstairs this morning, I couldn't help but think of what happened ten years ago and just realize, "Wow. That was 10 YEARS ago!" Within the house, some of us shared stories of 'where where you when...' to put things a bit in perspective. I would like to share mine really quickly:
I woke to the radio, thinking it might be a skit, since that is what I woke to many mornings on 91X, some kind of phone skit or prank on someone. It was interesting because I had an 8am class that day and only twice a week did I get up this early. I remember hearing, "Oh my God, the second tower just got hit..." For some reason it just felt like I had to wake up and turn on the tv and that is when I saw the horrific scene. First thing I did was call my mom because she worked a naval base and I just wanted to see what was going on with her. Then I watched as both towers, one after another fell. I still managed to get ready and go to my literature class at SDSU, unknowing what would be the case. The buzz around the campus was all about the event and what was going to happen next. That's all people were talking about as I walked past them, it felt very strange. Sure enough, the professor showed up and talked to us for a couple minutes and excused the class. I drove back home and heard on the radio schools had been cancelled EVERYWHERE and all sporting events were to be put on hold until this was sorted out. All airports where to be closed, obviously, and the list continued, like a nation wide storm.
I got back to the house and all I could manage to do was turn on the television and stare. My mom got home about an hour later and remember giving her a big hug and we sat and watched together as we heard more about the Pentagon and the plane in Pennsylvania. I called my work to see if they wanted me to come in, then working at Sunglass and Optical Warehouse, and as expected, they declined and told me to stay home. For the rest of the day all I remember from that point on was watching the news, seeing as more and more angles of the planes hitting were revealed, as more leads and updates were shared, and just staying close to my mom. Crying at times, just feeling like this could not be happening...I will never forget that day.
So, 10 years later. We all have our stories. People say it is like our parents when they can recall when JFK was assassinated or when the moon landing happened. It was quite remarkable waking to the thought today that that much time has passed, it is unreal. I hope everyone that lost someone that day was able to get through today without too much pain, we will never forget...
On the next note, today was Sunday, and that meant no work and the first day of NFL football (excluding Thurs). I had planned to watch the Chargers game via skype on my home tv (clever, huh?-no slingbox needed), but that was not until 3pm locally. So I spent all morning just relaxing with a cup of coffee (many cups) and a new book I have not been able to put down called Shantaram, which is awesome and about 1,000 pages (thanks Jenny for letting us borrow it).
I joined a pick'em league this week, so I had my eyes glued to all the scores from the morning games until the Bolts game. With the spreads included, I was wrong on almost every single pick today...great! So many damn blow outs, what the hell?! After those concluded, I got online with Nicole and got to watch the Chargers game relatively well, a bit blotchy (?) at times, but pretty good. Game started a bit like OH SHIT, but the 2nd half they got their stuff together and pulled off the win. Sweet, (1-0). Bring on the Pats!
The last couple days working, I just read the entire Haitian Building Guidelines book, commissioned by Habitat for Humanity, to see what kind of info I could get to relate to our current project. That is pretty much what I did Friday and Saturday, then once we got home yesterday around 2pm, I tackled hand cleaning my laundry for the first time this trip. It was very necessary; completely out of socks, undershirts and my towels/underwear/everything needed some good smelling stuff. So, spent about an hour hand scrubbing all my stuff and hanging them out to dry. It was nice and quiet. Therapeutic in a way. Can't think of a time ever I have done an entire load of laundry by hand, has to be the first time. Good practice for the peace corps, I guess. After that, I began my book and after a day and a half I am about 200 pages into it. Nice weekend indeed. Football and reading.
Right now I am watching some of the Boys/Jets game before heading off to bed.
Final Note: Be thankful for all that you have, days like today should remind us that. Try to tell your loved ones as much as you can how much you appreciate them and always keep in mind we are all here until we are not any longer, and we will never know when that is...
Love you all, thanks so much to everyone who supported this trip, I am having a great time.
GO BOLTS!