A few of the Seniors were sitting around having a cup of coffee waiting for their exercise program to begin. These Twin Pines Senior & Community Center regulars were remembering the tragedy of the World Trade Center Disaster and where they were when it happened. I mentioned to one of them quietly that I was there, in New York when it happened. They turned and looked at me and asked, "You were there?" When I said that I was, they wanted to know my story. Explaining that here in the Center in Belmont, we usually like keeping the atmosphere upbeat, I told them my story. To be brief here, my husband and I had gone there to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary with family and friends and happened to be under the World Trade Center at its subway stop when the first plane hit the first tower. We got out and ended up running for our lives, covered in ash when the first tower fell. We saw many things that day but I left the Seniors with this, "We need to appreciate the small things in life because you never know when they can just dissappear with the snap of a finger. Life is short so we need to enjoy every minute!" They all agreed. One person asked to touch me for good luck, and did. Then, they all went off to enjoy their exercise class. This week there was a September Birthdays Lunch, a lecture from Dr. Jim McCabe on Eldercare Resources and a Financial Safety presentation by Legal Aid Attorney Amanda Barden. Participants were having fun, learning, protecting ourselves and enjoying the small things. This Sunday, my husband, Don (now a USPTA Tennis Pro) and I (Belmont Seniors Recreation Coordinator) will share the 8:30am time with some local firemen near our home...and remember, with thanks for what we have in our lives today, and respect for others' losses. We will also look forward to our own small things, that we all still get to enjoy.
