Appreciating Life Today

Where were you on 9-11? As I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on 9-11, 2001, I am Appreciating Life.

Tiffany Dow is one of the best friends I’ve ever had that I’ve never met, so I thought I’d give her a thumbs-up and a little credit for what she wrote on her blog.

Below is quoted comment that I made on her blog post called “Where Were You On 9-11“?

Begin Quote:

I was in my “Big-Truck” on the way to get an empty trailer at the old train lot. I saw another Truck Driver there so I got out and walked over to talk to him for a minute.

As I was leaning into his passenger-side window talking to him, someone on his two-way radio said that a plane had crashed into the world trade center. Ziff and me (we called him “Ziff”) just looked at each other and assumed it was a small plane and continued with our conversation… but then the guy on the two-way radio said “…It was a Jumbo Jet…” So…

I got back in my own truck and immediately turned on my FM radio to hear what the news might be saying.

As I was driving on my way to my own warehouse near the “Tennessee Eastman” plant (Eastman Kodak) less than two miles away, the people on the FM radio said “ANOTHER Jumbo Jet has just crashed into the other tower… we might be under attack!”

When I arrived at the warehouse, I ran inside and spoke loudly “Did you guys hear the news about the big planes crashing into the world trade center?!!” (those guys were always listening to the radio). All the guys inside the warehouse looked at me expecting a punch-line, coz I’m a playful kinda guy.

I screamed “Turn the radio to a different station!” (they were always listening to grunge rock stations that didn’t get into news too often), and then I jumped into my truck to make another round.

When I got back again, about 20 minutes later, ALL THOSE GUYS in the warehouse, including the boss, were glued to the FM radio… and we listened for a few minutes… but I had work to do that could not wait so I drove my truck the rest of the day listening to the news on the FM radio.

I had NO access to a TV until I got home at about 6 pm later that day. After seeing the “Video Replays” of the crashes on my TV it was like I just seen and heard it for the first time all day! It was weird! FFWD…

It amazed me at just how FEW Democrats and Republicans there were the next day… EVERY American was “Just American”, plain and simple!

Obviously I could say much much more but it would sound much like Tiffany has already wrote in this blog post.

Good Job Tiffany!

Gary.

End Quote:

We all know that a lot of people died that day and an untold large amount of people are in terrible pain due to the loss and or injury of their loved ones.

Facing Death may cause “Appreciating Life!”

In 2003 I survived a very scary flash flood with several family members and friends including my two children. I cringe to think what would have happened to my children had the right decisions not have been made on the spot… at the speed of thought!

Also, a few years ago my Doctor told me (after getting my blood work results back), that I was on my way out (as in dying) soon if I didn’t start taking better care of myself and start taking cholesterol medication immediately.

A New Mindset And Taking Action!

I refused to take the cholesterol medication and I told him that I would improve my diet enough to fix my cholesterol, sugar, blood pressure and other problems. My doctor said… “that’s what they all say!.. And then they die!” He was pretty mad at me.

Anyway, after a year or two of keeping to my new mindset, my blood work showed that my health was excellently back on track! My doctor couldn’t believe it, he was very happy about that!

You see!? I had used the brain that God gave me to decide to change my mindset, eat better and exercise more and make all my decisions based on how much I am “appreciating life”, and to live longer and healthier for my kids and family.

Anyway, many of us have had a brush with death before, be it big or small, so please feel free to share your story in the comment section below concerning….”Where were you on 9-11, and how you are Appreciating Life?

Gary.