9/11/2011 – Reflections of the past decade

Like many people, I can’t believe it has been ten years since the attack on 9/11/2001.

I was in Pendleton for the Pendleton Round-Up. I go most years to spend time with family and whoop it up a bit.  Mona stayed home because Samantha had school. My Mom woke me up and handed me the phone. It was Mona. She told me the towers had been crashed into and that America was under attack. It was hard to believe, but I soon went upstairs and saw the news coverage showing the smoke coming from the towers.  It was surreal to watch the whole thing unfold as so many people died while we were all watching.  This day is one of the few days I have ever gotten a migraine. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one.

Mona had gotten out of the National Guard just a year or two before that and Samantha was instantly worried that she would be called back into service. That never happened.

Along with my parents I was also with my Grandma Blakely who I drove to Pendleton like I did many years for Round-Up. I was glad we were all together and only wished that Mona and Samantha had been in Pendleton with us as well. The Round-Up ended up continuing as planned (one of the few sporting events in the country that did). Most of the cowboys were already in the area for the early go-rounds. It was a subdued Round-Up, but I was glad to be there. A week later on the drive home to Southern Oregon with Grandma there were flags flying everywhere (bridges, buildings, cranes).

Mona and I already set up a trip for the 21st  to Lincoln City to celebrate our five year anniversary. It was an odd time to be celebrating when the nation was morning. It had a nice time especially with the great food we got at the coast. Hard to believe we have now been together almost fifteen years. A little over three years ago we became legal registered domestic partners when Oregon passed a domestic partnership law. We registered the first day it was available.

Mona has done a lot over the last ten years. She first became a CNA then an LPN. She is working towards getting her RN, but health issues halted that last year. Along with the schooling she has done she has also had to focus on healing a few times. She has had surgery on both shoulders (recent one last month) and is trying to get an eye condition under control so she can go back to school. One of her prominent memories was helping her brother Chris move to Alaska after the family was able to sell her late Mom’s house. It was an adventure on a ferry then through snowy and icy roads in Canada and Alaska with his car and a moving truck.

In September 2001, I just about finished my second year at Southern Oregon University. Since then I went back to school (while working) and got my Masters degree in Computer and Mathematical Sciences. I still enjoy the challenges of this job. I get to learn new things all the time. I briefly worked at interim manager last year, but I’m now back as programmer/analyst with my original boss coming back. I’m happy with the way things turned out. I’ve had a bit of a health issue being diagnosed with MS, but overall my health is good I don’t generally have any major issues. I’m very thankful for that.

This past decade, I lost both of my Grandmas (the same year) and a niece, Danielle (this last year). Samantha now has two sons and another one on the way so we have two grandsons. My brother also had a second son.  I am very grateful for the time I’ve had with the family we have lost and look forward to the time spent with the new additions to our family. Enjoy each other as much as you can. Time is precious.

My parents have done a lot in the last ten years. I believe Mom had just retired before 9/11. Dad worked a little longer then retired. They moved a couple times and are now moving into their new beautiful house/cabin they are having built. They bought a cabin out of Lostine in Eastern Oregon which is a wonderful place to retire. Great place to relax, but plenty to do to keep you busy if you want. I am really happy they are able to do this for themselves. They deserve to enjoy the rewards of their hard work over the last thirty plus years.

After finishing my Masters degree I decided to start a new hobby for entertainment. Video games. I bought myself a PSP and soon after was asked to join a group called the PlayStation Gamer’s Advisory Panel. GAP for short. It is hard to believe that from this group I have become friends on-line with people from all over the United States and Canada. I treasure those friendships and celebrate their achievements and morn their hardships and losses just like any other friend I’ve had.  The majority I’ve never met, but hope someday we may cross paths. The internet has brought people closer from all over the world. We didn’t have Facebook, Twitter or many other Social networks ten years ago. It is incredible how communication has changed over the last ten years. It seems to bring the world closer together, but can constantly bombard you with information as well.

Time keeps going, but it is always good to take a moment and look how we got here. September 11, 2001 was a scary painful day. Security everywhere has changed. Not always for the better, but we are generally safer because of it. Our country has been at war for the past ten years and in a recession for at least 4 years. Not an easy time for many, but we keep moving forward. It is all we really can do.

I hope for the best in the next ten years. For the world, the United States of America, friends and family. As long as we all try to make our lives better for ourselves and others, we will be going in the right direction.

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