Never Forget... 9-11-2001

Today marks the 11th anniversary of 9/11.  With traumatic experiences we tend to remember exactly where we were on the day in question.  For me, I was in 6th grade.  I can remember kids being called to the main office and asked to gather their stuff because their parents were there to take them home.  It was alarming because by the end of the day there were only a few people left in school by the end of the day.  I went to a very small school but the hallways were never quiet except for this day.  I remember walking down the hallways to go to the bathroom and seeing a bunch of teachers huddled together crying.  I had no idea what was going on.  I was finally in my math class with Mrs. Stig.  She was called out into the hallway and when she returned she mentioned that if any of our parents worked in the city and we couldn't reach them that we needed to call the school right away and someone would pick us up.  Looking back at that I'm shocked that the school didn't feel that we should know what was going on.  We later found out that the elementary school actually found out what happened but how could they comprehend what was happening.  I remember getting home and seeing the planes hit the building over and over on every single channel.  I remember calling my mom and just crying because I didn't understand what was happening.  My mom told me to turn the TV off and put a movie on because I shouldn't be watching this.  My poor mother did not know what to do in this situation. I remember being mad at her because she didn't come pick me up from school but my moms a nurse and she couldn't leave because some of the injured people were being boated over to her hospital for care.  While watching the replay of what was happening it was the first time I can remember realizing that there were evil people out there that were capable of killing innocent people.

Later when I was a junior in high school I had a student teacher who told me that while she was teaching in St. Louis the children didn't even know what happened on September 11.  They watched the news cast from the day and thought it was a movie.  I was shocked, maybe it affected me a little more because where I live is directly across the water from lower Manhattan but this was a major event in our countries history.  As I'm writing this I'm watching the news coverage from the memorial and can't help but feel sympathy for all the families that lost someone that day.  Although, I did not know someone that perished on 9/11, I remember the sense of community the country felt after these events.  We need to band together as a nation and support each other and NEVER FORGET those who have lost their lives on 9/11 or fighting for our country.

A Week in Review... Olympics, Work, and Shopping

Lately, I've been having issues thinking of what to write on here.  There are some days where I can't wait to write something and then there are other days where I can't think of anything.  As a solution each Sunday I'm going to write a week in review post that highlights my week.

FIRST, the Olympics.  Can I just say I become more patriotic every time one of the members from Team USA wins a medal (U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A).  I'm a little upset that NBC has a delay in the programming and I know who won before I even see it (which I understand the need for the delay).  Needless to say I still cried when Gabby Douglas won the all around gold medal for gymnastics when I watched it.  I get chocked up watching the athletes on the podium while hearing the national anthem play because I imagine this is the moment they wait their entire life for.   

Photo from Time Magazine

 Michael Phelps... need I say more.  This man has single handily changed the sport of swimming.  I'm a little sad that he's "retiring" because he is an amazing athlete and I would like him to swim for as long as possible because he dominates the sport.  Maybe he'll pull a Brett Favre and announce his tear filled retirement only to come back later and say he changed his mind?  But these Olympic games have made me hopeful for the future of US Swimming because of the other great swimmers that are on Team USA.

Photo from Yahoo Sports

Another inspiring story from the Olympics is the story of Oscar Pistorius, the South African runner who at a young age had both his legs amputated below the knee.  There has been much debate that his prosthetic legs give him a slight advantage over the other runners, which the olympic committee proved false.  Before his race the other day, NBC Sports ran a piece on him which highlighted how he got to the Olympics.  What was so inspirational is that his mother told him that if his "able bodied" brother was climbing a tree, Oscar better be up there with him climbing it.  She told her son he was no different then other children and he's proved her right by making it to the Olympics.    Even though he's not on Team USA, he's got a fan in me because I will support this man in any of his future endeavors because he is truly an inspiration to all!

Ok, so enough about the Olympics on to the rest of my week.  When I haven't been watching the Olympics I've been busy working.  I wish I could say work has gotten better but it hasn't.  I've realized i need a change because an interesting quote popped up on my Tumblr.  It was the famous quote from Confucius that said “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”  This will be my new motto... so the search continues to find a job I love!

Hello, my name is Tori and I'm addicted to shopping.  Sadly, it's true.  I just see a deal, or something I have to have and I just buy it.  My bank account isn't too fond of my addiction but it does enable it.  In my defense, I've gotten some great deals and everything I've bought was a classic piece that I needed in my closet. I'm trying to not just buy things because I "feel" like I need it. 

Well, I'm off to enjoy the rest of my Sunday.  I hope everyone has a great week!