I was a university drop-out. I was 6 months pregnant and alone. I was living with my parents, who reluctantly took me in after I came home from studying music in Iowa. I was extremely depressed. I had a sister who basically relished in the fact that I was going to be a single parent, and felt the need to put me down about every minute for it. She loves when I fail because it makes her feel better about failing in her own life, I guess... I slept. I slept a lot. Basically I would ROLL out of bed, go downstairs, eat, read, sleep and repeat.

It was 6 am and I was in a deep sleep. My mom came bursting in the room saying a jet plane ran into a building in NYC. In my head I was thinking "how does this apply to me" but I hobbled downstairs to watch the news with her. It was on every channel. I watched in amazement as smoke poured out of the building. Then the reporters caught site of a second plane, and I started to cry.

You all know the rest.. The days that followed were a blur of watching news programs 20 hours a day, and basically the world shutting down, reeling from this unprecedented event.

Every year on 9/11 I can't help but to think of what a different life we lead compared to 9/10/2001 and prior. You could practically walk on a plane with minimal ID. I could go across the border to the U.S. and not get asked more than "where are you headed?" And because it's such a momentous event, I think of how MY life has changed too.. I finished university, got two degrees, all the while being a single parent (and proud of it), I got engaged, got a full-time teaching position and just yesterday bought my first house. I need these reminders once in a while. Little affirmations that we're all growing, learning, and leading a better life because of tough lessons learned in the past.

My heart goes out to survivors and relatives/loved ones who lost someone they loved in the 9/11 attacks.