Seeking Change.

 

Today before I went to my college class I stopped at Starbucks to grab a coffee. As I was leaving with my grande pumpkin spice latte in hand a man approached me in the parking lot.

The first words out of his mouth were “This is so embarrassing”. Before even telling me his situation he swore he didn’t drink, and he was practically in tears. He said that his daughter needed a prescription and he didn’t have the money to pay for it. He told me a lady had given him four dollars but the prescription was $ 17.00.

He didn’t look homeless. He definitely wasn’t Mr. Business, but he was clean enough.  I gave him the thirteen dollars he needed.

You’re thinking SCAM, right? I’m not so sure. He asked what my name was and grabbed my hand. He told me that he worked at a place down the street and that if I came in on Tuesday he would pay me back. I told him not to even worry about it.

Maybe he did scam me, but what if this was true? How many Americans can’t pay for medicine? I mean, it’s not out of the question that this was true.

I don’t think that I could have set through my class with my $ 4 coffee knowing that this guy was struggling to even provide for his child. The more I thought about it, the more I didn’t care if it was a scam. Sometimes you have to trust a stranger. That’s what is wrong with society. We’ve got so used to not trusting anybody that people think it is ok to lie. This guy could have been the best actor I’ve ever met, I mean I willingly handed him over my lunch money. But I refuse to be that person who turns into what society is making everybody out to be; cold, untrusting, and selfish. 

If he was lying, I hope he realized that there are so many people that are willing to help people in situations like his, but more importantly, there are more people who would have no trouble shrugging it off.

I don’t feel like I lost $13 today. I feel like I took a step in some right direction.

What would you have done? Honestly. 

9/11.

 

9/11. You remember where you were. I know I do.

I was in third grade. My teacher let us know what was going on very subtly during a snack break. I was in the bathroom and I didn’t get to hear what happened. I remember watching the news with my dad when I got home that night. I remember sitting on my parents bed and watching the planes fly in to the twin towers. I was 10 and that image will stick with me for the rest of my life.

It’s sort of crazy. It’s been 9 years since the attacks and it seems like time stood still on September 11, 2001. The whole world was watching while our country fell to its knees.

Tonight, I’m watching Remember Me, feat Robert Pattinson, (spoiler alert!!!). I cry every time. Everybody that died had a story, a family, a life, a meaning. I think that is what saddens me so much.

I want to take this chance to thank all of the service men and women who are fighting as a result of the terrorism attacks. That event forever changed your lives. It changed the course of America. We can fight about the reason why America is in Iraq and Afghanistan. We can stick to our party lines. We can blame and point fingers. But we can’t deny the fact that because of our military we are a safer, stronger nation.

I also want to thank the firefighters and police officers that responded that day. Dealing with disaster isn’t easy. What they put on the line is more than anyone could ask for and the police officers, especially, will always hold a special place in my heart. I can’t help but think that even 9 years ago, my life decisions were being decided by what I was witnessing.

I finally want to acknowledge the families of the victims of September 11. Their strength is part of what kept America together, in my opinion. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain. I don’t know anybody close to event but I wish them ease and comfort. It’s hard to find the words to describe these families because they are so strong.

9/11 isn’t an event that should be forgotten. It should be respected, by all walks of life, all religions. While unfortunate, its an important lesson, and continues to shape life as we know it.

Thank you.