Reflecting on 10 years

Today marks the 10th anniversary of 9/11, now called Patriot Day. Everywhere I look on Facebook and Twitter I see mention of this day in some capacity and with good reason -- this day in history changed many things about the way we live today. It is amazing that I cannot remember what I was doing at a particular time last week or last month (I can remember exactly what I was doing on this day last year -- Happy 1st Anniversary to my dear sister, Kelly and her husband, Tim!), but I can remember exactly what I was doing on that Tuesday morning 10 years ago; and this is a sentiment I have read today over and over again.

When I learned what was happening on that Tuesday morning, I was still a newlywed, having gotten married barely two months earlier. I was sitting in lecture with my fellow third year veterinary students learning about laryngeal surgery in small animals with Dr. Roberto Novo and my husband was supposed to be traveling to Green Bay, WI for work. My class day was cut short and Kevin never made that trip that day.

So many things have happened in my life since that day 10 years ago -- My dad survived colon cancer; I graduated from veterinary school and started my first, second, third, and fourth job; I stood up for and celebrated the marriage of many of my closest friends; I had my daughter; I had my son; I celebrated with my brother and sister-in-law when they were married; I celebrated with my sister and brother-in-law when they were married; my grandmother (maternal) has been in and out of the hospital and several transitional care centers more times that I can count; my grandfather (paternal) died of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma; celebrated 10 years of marriage; my daughter started kindergarten; I decided to go back to school and specialize in veterinary spinal manipulation therapy; and I have been lucky enough to travel all over the world. Despite this list, however, I can still remember that Tuesday morning like it was yesterday and as I watch the footage on the television today and hear the names of those that lost their lives and think about the their loved ones and the first responders, it's like hardly a day has passed.

I think the take home message for me and everyone that can remember that day is that we will never forget.