September 11th, 2001-2008

Wow.

Has it really been seven years?

I remember that day so vividly. I had just gotten to my desk around 9am at my old job as a social worker and logged on to AIM quickly before heading to our weekly case management team meeting. Jenn IM'ed me and asked me if I'd heard the news. What news? Little did I know...

The weather was gorgeous. The skies were a bright blue, no clouds in sight. No humidity. Temps in the low 80s. I was wearing a pair of black linen capris, a striped sleeveless sweater, and my black Nine West slides.

As the events of that day unfolded, some literally in our backyard, it was easy to watch because it was so hard to believe the realness of it all. I remember being worried about my sister, as she was in D.C. that day volunteering at an art museum. Nobody could get in touch with her for a long time because all of the cell phone lines were overloaded. I remember thinking, "What the hell is next?"

Mark and I walked down to the Pentagon that night, after ordering Chinese takeout. It was then, standing on the hill at the Navy Annex on Columbia Pike and looking over at the (still burning) fire that the firemen were trying to put out, that I really grasped what had happened...and how close to home it all was.

It was scary. We certainly remember, but we have moved on. And we don't let that day and all the propaganda surrounding it push us further out from the city or scare us into believing that we're not safe living where we do. We love it here and feel fortunate to be able to live right outside the nation's capital.

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As I was at the gym this morning, I began to reflect on some of what's happened in seven years.

It's mind-blowing to me:

• Mark and I got engaged and married.
• I began and completed a Masters program.
• I switched careers from social work to special ed.
• My dad died.
• I became a mother for the first time.
• I became a homeowner for the first time.
• I got to travel back to the Middle East and reunite with family that I haven't seen in almost 20 years.
• I've traveled to places like Hawaii, the Bahamas, the Caymans, England, Cancun, and Vegas.
• I've been the Maid of Honor in two of my best friends' weddings.
• Mark and I bought a pop-up camper and have taken numerous memorable trips with it.
• I welcomed my 30s. And I was excited about it.
• Mark's mom died.
• I began liking (and now love!) the taste of wine, shrimp, and Brussels sprouts - all of which I detested.
• I rekindled friendships with some of my closest friends.
• I bought and completely paid for my Civic. (The student loan debt is another story. Will that ever be paid off?!)
• I bore witness to the "Virginia Tech Tragedy" - something that I never in a million years thought would happen there.
• I've learned to be much more comfortable in my body and to be more at peace with myself and my decisions.
• I've been to a U2 concert, several REM concerts, a Prince concert, a Cher concert, and a Buffet concert. Legends. All of them.

I wonder what the next seven years holds...