Today as all of us know has been a look back and some of us looking forward. Forward to what is coming and grateful to the past for what we have been blessed to receive and live through. Ten years ago most everyone's life was changed even in the tiniest way. If we looked at people, really looked at them and said hello and wished them well. We, the citizens that reside in the USA became one voice for about 3 days, all were thinking of those people who lost their lives in NYC, DC, and Flight 93. We also thought about their families and how they were doing, some of us thought we needed to make an outward difference so they joined the service, some made their way to Missions and Rescue sights and are still there working with the residents, some prayed, a lot of us prayed (it is our God given right and we exercised that), some went to work to find better ways to catch the criminals and some wrote programs to keep the security systems up and running and better than they were before. All of us changed that day, that day whether you had any family, friend, connection all were touched by those explosions into buildings and the countryside, and the horrific crumbling of those two buildings in NYC. Today I watched a lot of the coverage of the 10th memorial of that day, I was impressed at how reverent the news media was today on every channel, at every memorial sight, how much respect they had today to make this about the remembering and paying homage to those who gave their lives, not voluntarily, most of those dear lives that were lost on this day 10 years ago were regular people going to work, less than a quarter of the lives lost were military, law enforcement, fire department or other civil service persons. It is amazing that we don't hear more of their stories, we honor those that gave their lives by doing their job, a job that they all "signed up" for, do we honor those over 3/4 of the 2,973 that did not "ask" to be put in harm's way? We should honor them, we should give their families a voice everyday not that they are "extra" victims, but they weren't in civil service they went to work that day. They did know (most of them) that their fate had been decided, they called their loved ones and said goodbye but who speaks for them today, all of us should. I watched again today, the footage of some of them at the windows and deciding their death as they jumped out from 100 stories up. God Bless them all. Nothing can take that from the memories of those below as they watched them in real time. Who takes care of those people with those images in their memories? God Bless them as they need healing, they need comfort, they need strength to keep moving forward. I pray for all of those people that left this world on 9/11/01, I pray for their families, friends and co-workers who survived, I pray for us as we continue on our paths that have been paved for us. May God Bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and give you peace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Keeping you up to date.

Hi all!

I know that some of you have been keeping up with me while I am here in FL with my sisters tending to my Dad's belongings and such. Dad passed suddenly on May 13 just two weeks ago today. We interred him at the Florida National Cemetery today, a fitting ceremony/task on Memorial Day Weekend. As he was a WWII veteran and he should be remembered for that and so much more, we know he will be. Dad was a man that never dwelled on negative things, he did live his last half of his life with better optimism than he had the first half of his life.

He left a legacy of humor and kindness. All of his neighbors at the building where he had lived the past 7 years were sad to learn of his passing as well as each and every one of them told at least one of us that they would miss him terribly. So will we, but he lives on in our memories and stories and in our hearts.

God Bless you Dad! Paint the skys for they are your canvas now.

Another year, some new thoughts...

As I have reviewed the blog I realize that I have not "jumped in" here this year yet. Last year at this time I was back in San Diego/Temecula area awaiting my second stage surgery and visiting with friends as well as closing up the house ready to close that chapter of our lives and see what the "new area" had for us. Not close off our relationships with you all out there just be done with the property and all it's horrible "red tape" ends! I could rant on that for about 3 pages, but to suffice it to say that property has been put on the market for a mere $340K! Ah, about half of what we paid for it but hey you can't cry over spilled milk, so move forward! We have moved again, (I know I keep saying that) and we are settled here within the city limits of Falls Church with a nice little house with a big yard (lots of branches and leaf clean up), enough room for Craig and I and guests on a really nice street with kind neighbors and the items that had to be fixed are repaired so we are on a good slant right now.

As for me and work, well I am looking at all options and not finding many opportunities but I trust that one will present itself as soon as it will and then I will be working once again, maybe for myself maybe for some other company. One thing I am trying to keep in mind "I want something that is more philanthropic than corporate". The weather here has been spring, some days cold, some days warm, and all the while a little precipitation lurking on the horizon, that is always good. Weather. Craig's job seems to be holding it's own, the teams there are looking for work and so far he still has some contracts to work on so for the time being we are in a holding pattern.

During my birthday week this past January I took a quick trip to Pittsburgh, PA and visited some old friends and our old stomping grounds. What a walk down memory lane I had been back to Pittsburgh one other time with Craig and the boys but that was so fast and they had little interest in walking down those memories with me that I don't think that counted this time I was with my sister and she having most of the same memories it was nostalgic to see how things had changed yet remained the same. The old roads that we used to walk were recognizable but had highways built up around them, the neighborhoods were there but the houses were much smaller than I remember and I was there when I was 22. Some things the mind plays tricks on.

I keep thinking that I am healed from all my surgeries now, I even decided to see physicians again or start back up with them. I just felt that I had given over a year to doctors and their diagnoses, surgical plans, and complications that arose and I wanted to take a break from all of them, which really didn't happen as I broke my arm walking the dogs and had a couple of colds which led to sinus issues but at least I felt like I was taking back control of me. So this Monday I will meet with a local Oncologist here in the area and get the annual mammogram and start back on the path of keeping myself current with those sorts of things, not that I "thrive" on that but "knowledge is power" so let's not fear what they might have to say. Although the end of November I did find out that my blood levels were the best they had been in over 5 years! That's good news, so something I am doing is doing some good. I am alone most days which I thought was going to change here but that is under my control and I just need to get out and find some things to do, get involved in, keep my mind and body occupied as some would say and keep moving forward.

Til next time,
Hugs, Deb