So, it's been a pretty good week/weekend. Found out on Friday night when I arrived at my parents' house that I've been assigned to some tasks for the upcoming Simbang Gabi (evening mass) in December. :) I was "volunteered" to put together the program booklet, and to be one of the readers during the service. The planning committee (of which my mom is a member) tried to get me to be one of the ushers/collectors too, but then they thought better of it. :)

I think I might be a little nervous getting on the plane again this week because of the upcoming 9/11 anniversary, but I'm confident that airport security will avert any repeats or copycat incidents. Hard to believe that a year ago at this time, I flew out to HSV on a Sunday night, worked on Monday like normal, then like the rest of the world was horrified to see the events of 9/11 unfold. I kept tabs on the news from my desk at work (via the web; I didn't see anything on tv till later), but I really didn't grasp the magnitude of the events until my mom called me to tell me that the WTC towers had collapsed. Then everyone was sent home. I had lunch with a co-worker then retreated to my hotel room to watch the news coverage. It was all so terrible, and I was actually glad that I didn't see anything on tv in "real-time" because I probably would have freaked out even more. I managed to stay composed until I heard a voicemail message from one of my company's managers back in Chicago, asking all the traveling consultants to call in and let them know that we were okay. For some reason it struck me right then that this was a *really* bad situation and I started crying a little. I got in touch with the manager and it was somehow very reassuring to hear her voice and her concern. It's still so unbelievable that this happened, and it's been so heartbreaking to hear stories of families and friends of those lost. Anyway, I'm so thankful I wasn't in the air that day, and that no one I knew was directly affected in the attacks. Peace to all...