What a crazy day it has been! Bo and I went to bed really early last night and therefore missed the multiple phone calls, text messages, and news flashes regarding Bin Laden’s death. Living in New York City, this event takes on a whole new meaning. This morning at the gym, the news and surrounding thoughts were on the tip of everyone’s tongue. My spin teacher, who is pretty relaxed, even played some American themed music, in honor of the event. One of my co-workers, a native New Yorker, put it into perspective for me when she explained, “We all remember where we were when his group changed our lives.”
Ten years ago, I was sitting in my first period AP European English class when news reached our school. Our entire upper school was brought into assembly so we could watch the news. My aunt worked in the city at the time and therefore I was one of the students most affected in our Savannah, Georgia school. It wasn’t until noon that we found out her morning meeting had been cancelled and she was safe and sound in her Hastings home. 
My morning workout went by much faster than normal since there was such interesting news on television. I did 1 mile of hills before my 45 minute spin class and then 1 mile of sprints after the class. This was the first time in ages I’ve successfully tacked on a run before or after my spin class. It actually felt great! The running loosened my legs after the tough spin class and left them feeling more relaxed than they normally do after Dave M’s killer hill and interval workouts!
Breakfast
I’m trying to give up coffee this week as I found myself drinking it way too much last week. Therefore, I enjoyed an iced green tea with this morning’s bowl of oats. I also added a teaspoon of peanut butter for some extra staying power.
Lunch
I realized that for almost a month straight, I enjoyed a Greek salad every single day! Therefore, last week I found myself moving towards less healthy options as I experimented more. I’m pulling the reigns in this week but keeping the options healthy. Each day, I’m challenging myself to change out at least 2 of the toppings, ensuring that I keep them on the healthier side. Today’s new toppings were chopped green beans and asparagus. I loved the added crunch!
Today’s salad included romaine lettuce, garbanzo beans, red onions, asparagus, green beans, chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, a few olives, feta cheese, and fat free Italian dressing! It was delicious!
The rest of my evening is dedicated to finalizing our Bermuda trip plans, which includes fun things like choosing spa treatments, deciding which day we want to scuba dive, and whether or not we want to fit in a round of golf. We’re also trying to book our hotel for our 4th of July Miami trip tonight! I can’t wait to enjoy plenty of time on the beach this summer!
Question: Was your day affected by last night’s events? How?
Honestly – the cheering and a hollering is embarrassing. Is this how we choose to live? An eye for an eye? We rejoice in the death of someone who rejoiced in the death of thousands? As terrible and evil a man he was, and as much as i KNOW (and i do) how his actions affected others, I find the overall USA!USA! rhetoric just nauseating. But then I’ve lived outside of the country for a number of years and seeing it from the outside is just….a bit sad. That’s my honest opinion!
I completely agree, and I saw the planes hit from three blocks away and look at Ground Zero every day from my office window. It’s embarrasing, jingoistic, and creepy. Especially the pictures on college campuses – these kids look like they are at a homecoming game or something. I’m glad he is dead too. But I don’t feel the need to run screaming through the streets. It’s all about perspective.
Sorry to be forceful – I rarely comment but usually love your blog:-)
Hey, very significant day for all today….when are you going to Bermuda? We’ve been several times because it is sloop close, you are there in an hour and a half, not tired from traveling and ready to enjoy the most beautiful beaches. We rented a scooter and went to beaches where we were the only people within sight. Love it in Bermuda. Enjoy.
I’d love your opinions on things to do! We’re staying at Elbow Beach resort and are so excited as this is our first trip!
Hey, you should stay at my brother’s hotel when you go to Miami. It’s called The Raleigh and it’s on South Beach. Wonderful hotel and best pool you’ve ever seen in your life 🙂
Does his hotel feature friends of the bride discounts? 😉
As I work at home, without cable my day wasn’t really affected. However, it really is surreal that this particular chapter in American history has ended. I hope that it brings some sort of closure to the loved ones of those lost in 9/11.
While I am patriotic, I just dont see how murdering the mastermind of such a horrible event is called Justice. It puts us in a place where Bin Laden supporters feel the need to avenge his death. Now, had they captured Bin Laden and imprisoned him, I’d feel better about it. But people jumping up and down celebrating his death is feeling a little wrong to me. After all, this one mans death doesnt equate the thousands of innocent people that were killed nor does it make up for the fact that bin laden didnt plan this alone. What of the others that had a hand in the attack? Honestly, we are no better than them jumping up and down in the streets celebrating the death of another human being.
I want to preface this with that this is just my opinion. I’ve lurked on your blog for a while, never commented.
I am a born and raised manhattanite, and like you, I was in highschool when I got the news, my 4th full day as a freshmen at a new school. However, I didn’t see it on the TV, I got pulled out of the library by the head of the school who told me what happened and I remember every moment of 9/11/01, however the months following are totally blank. See I lost my mother on 9/11 she worked in the second tower, as a “victim” (though I don’t think thats the correct word) of 9/11 I thought I’d share my thoughts.
Bin Laden dead or alive doesn’t change the past 9 + years of my life or certainly doesn’t make them any easier. It doesn’t bring me peace and it doesn’t make me feel justice. Most of all, it doesn’t make me feel any safer. In fact, it makes me feel more worried about an attack in the coming days again in NYC.
No death, no matter how evil, should ever be celebrated. I am thankful for the men and women serving everyday who give up there lives so that we can live ours thankfully.
I also want to thank you for letting me get my views out, I haven’t found a place to express them yet, and the media certainly isn’t looking for “victims” that feel the way I do.
I should really proof-read, guess I was too emotional.
*Thankfully = peacefully.
I also wanted to add that I am not offended by your point of view, and I am glad you shared what it means to you. I admit, I am a tad jealous that for everyone (who didn’t loose someone) it gets to be a day, to remember. For me its my entire life, I never go threw an hour of the day without remembering, though through a lot of therapy and self-work, I now remember the positive things about my mother and not the negativity of the day.
I think your comment is beautifully written. I also grew up in New York City, and was in 8th grade algebra when the first tower was hit. I think it was impossible to live in the city and not have your life be dramatically changed by the events, but I cannot even imagine the impact on your life. I am shocked by the reaction of so many of our fellow new yorkers. I will never be able to celebrate the death of anyone, and I worry that this reaction will make Bin Laden into a martyr in many people’s eyes. I worry about the rest of the world viewing people dancing in the streets and feel as though this will just increase extremism.
I have the same worries, it feels good to get them out though doesn’t it?!
Thanks for sharing your story too.
I think the the excessive cheering and celebrations are an absolute abomonation. There is no celebration in death, regardless of who the deceased is. This event provides a small amount of closure for thousands of people, but it is no way a joyous occasion. This is showing Americans at their lowest; they are brought down to the level of the Al Queda supporters who were seen celebrating on 9/11.