September 11th

Wow, 9 years & still such a sad day.  Many of you know that I dated a NYC Firefighter, Jerry Dewan.  He was killed in the WTC on September 11th.  I still remember his memorial service & seeing firefighters, friends & family as far as the eye can see.  When I think about that whole weekend in Boston with his family & friends I feel as if it moved in super slow motion.  I remember seeing the largest American flag draped between two tower ladders.  I don't think I have ever seen a flag that big ever in my life.  & even though it was 9 years ago, I still remember almost every minute of that weekend.

I also remember the day that they found Jerry's body in the WTC & my college friend Deanna (who introduced me to Jerry) calling me at work to let me know.  It was an eerie feeling, as I had a strange feeling with me that day in December & remember the news that a bunch of firefighters had been found the night before.  It was the only consolation of that horrible day, that they had found him & could provide a tiny bit of closure to his grieving family.

When Jerry died I remember someone telling me that they had found his running schedule on the refrigerator.  He had been running 12 miles a day in the weeks before his death.  Back then, I couldn't even run 12 feet & it was amazing to me that he had been running so much.  I promised myself that someday I would be able to do the same & I even joined a training program at the gym that September to try to train for the 2002 Spring Lake 5.

It took me a really long time to remember that promise that I made, that I would someday get my fat ass out there & run & I look back & wished I had done it a lot sooner than 2008, but I did it & that is all that counts.

As the 9th anniversary of that horrible day approaches I want to remind everyone the promise that I made back in 2001, that I would honor Jerry someday & continue his love of running.  This year is the 2nd year I will be running in the Tunnel to Towers Run in NYC to benefit the Stephen Siller Foundation.  If you are in the NYC area you can watch in on CBS.  Still thinking of you babe.