If you commonly come to my blog you might have noticed a block that appeared on the bottom of the right column a couple of months ago. I become a part of a tribute to the victims of 9/11. I have thought about today’s blog off and on since July. I have tried to learn about Robert D Pugliese from East Fishkill, NY. I do not know much of this man who lost his life that dark day in September five years ago. He was the assistant Vice President of Marsh and McLennon Companies Inc. I know he had a daughter named Lisa who was in college at the time. That isn’t a whole lot.

So what do I write? Along with everyone else in the country I have been thinking about what I was doing that morning. I was living with my family in Orem, UT. I was working 2 jobs at the time while preparing to leave for my mission. That morning my uncle had been watching the morning news in his room as usual; he came running upstairs to turn on the news for us. I only had a few minutes watch before I had to rush off to my morning job at the MTC. I watched the second plane crash into one of the towers and was in shock. I spent the short drive to work wondering what was going on. At the MTC, rumors were running wild. No one knew what was really happening. There was no TV allowed, no radios, no idea what was really happening. But we heard of missionaries stranded in airports around the country. It was un-nerving and frightening. By 10 am I was heading to my second job. I expected this to be the easier of two. I was temping for a company as an admin assistant. Unfortunately, 2 of our men were in New York, one even on the same block as the Towers. I was finally able to learn more about what was happening. Talk about shock and fear. Who would do something like this? I was soon fielding frantic calls from the two wives. There was nothing we could tell these women. No one knew how to contact our guys. Their phones weren’t working. No one knew where they were. I was more then grateful to pass them on to the VP I was assisting. I don’t remember much of the rest of that day.

So why am I remembering this? What do I find so important about that day five years ago? That day taught me what I valued most in this life. I was itching to get out to the mission field. I wanted to tell people that this life was not the end. I wanted people to know that there is something after this life; that those that lost a loved one that horrible day (or any other day before and since) would have the chance to see them again. I wanted to spend as much time with my family as I could, to make sure they knew I loved them. We had already been through so much as a family; I wanted each member to know that I loved them and would always love them. That day showed me that the most important things in my life can be summed up in 2 things; God and Family. I do not know what I would do with out either one.

My heart and prayers go out to the families of those that did not get to come home that day five years ago.

~Rae~