I recall the experience...

We all remember where we were on September 11th, I was in a meeting and walked out into a group of people staring at the TV, no words, no emotions just blank stares.  That day changed all of us for the rest of our lives, we no longer felt as safe as we once did, the empathy and sorrow we felt for the families who were so affected by the day.   I love the quote above because it was so sad but what came out of it was so sweet.  We now have a place that when anybody visits they recall the day and where they were, the amazing community that has developed around there and all of the good that has come.  I remember being in 6th grade and watching the Challenger, I also remember my mother telling me that she was in typing class when JFK got shot, burned into our souls for good and bad.

"The strong fly on this weekend"  is what I said when people would ask me why would I go to a conference in Washington DC on the weekend of September 11th.  To be honest it definitely didn't feel right but I am the ultimate Devil's Advocate, one who goes against the grain, opposite direction of the masses.  That was tested when I got on a plane that was suited for 200 people and only 20 people decided to fly that day.  I will say that what I found in Washington DC was amazing and surreal.  Definitely a quieter Washington DC, one where you found a police officer on every corner or in every Metro Car, fire trucks just hanging out on side streets...it just might have been the safest day to be there.  The conference had one of their largest attendance numbers and they kicked it off with a speaker who was one of the First Responders to the Trade Center that day.  The line to have him sign his book had to be 200 people deep and conversation was filled with everything that he talked about, experienced and is still dealing with to this day.

But life was happening all around us people were out walking, visiting the local Farmer's Market (the coolest one ever), enjoying the 80 degree plus weather.  Interesting enough it was my travel partner Sara Kasun's birthday as well.   It's always so fun to hang with Sara our lives are so interlooped (might not be a word :-) but so different.  She is the single girl looking for the one and I am the old married one telling her that the one is the one that makes you laugh and that they may not be perfect but look for the good and deal with the bad.  She turned 30 on the 11th and man she was taking it in stride...it was awesome that people no longer think that 30 is old, but just the next chapter or decade.  I love love my 30's it has truly defined me and to be honest my 40's dont scare me too much.  So we did what any girls in their 30's would do, soaked up the sun, stole some pieces of honey crisp apples, had some amazing "drunken noodle" thai food for dinner at THAIPHOON and finished it all of with a manicure/pedicure and a nice Krispy Kreme donut for dessert.  I do think the fountain of youth lies in your feet.  My toes are yellow right now with cute little flowers and everytime I look at them...I can't help but think what was I thinking...but they are too cool! 

Also I went old school and visited a local photography store and fell in love with a new exciting lens...oh yeah baby I have a new 10-20 in my life some fun pics below with my new toy.

In retrospect I am so glad we flew that weekend, because what we were able to experience that day was strength...fear decided to take the day off.