On Sept. 11 I was driving to the store and heard the new on the radio. I immediately called my daughter in Conn. to see about her husband who works in the city. He was OK. She mentioned that my other daughter worked only half a block from the WTC and had I heard from her. NO, I hadn't and up until then did not know she worked in that part of the city. I turned around and went home and started calling. I couldn't get her or her partner and had no idea where she was. My husband was also trying to reach her. I was frantic. Finally after 4 hours of being crazy she called. She had not gone into work that day. Stayed home to take her son to his first day of preschool. Someone is looking out for her and I am forever thankful.

Since 9/11 the world has changed. As a country we have changed the way we do things. As an individual I have changed the way I approach life and living. In the months that followed I focused on family and friends. I made sure I saw my daughters and grandchildren every chance I had. I made and still make the four hour drive to their homes at lease twice a month. The saying "you never know" seems to haunt me.

In January I was diagnosed with kidney disease. So far no problems but am told that could change any time now. This diagnosis reaffirmed my resolve to not just plan but to do. To do the things I had dreamed about-those which are in the realm of possibility instead of the old "I'll do it when, I'll learn it after".

There is no unlimited future anymore. So the words, actions, activities I dreamed of are done now. Or as near to now as is reasonable. The most important act now is to tell loved ones every day how you feel about them, laugh with them, cry with them. Sometimes it becomes too late.