Day 11 (Sun., Sept. 11)

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It's amazing how many things can happen in one year. Too much things have happened in my life in the past 12 months. A year ago today I walked around in the Financial District of New York City. I remember waking up at 4:30 a.m. to head out to the World Trade Center memorial. That was a very sad day and it was hard to stay focused as all kinds of thoughts crossed my mind while being at the site where terrorists had their way. To read more about my thoughts that day, please visit Day 5 of my New York City Journal.

It's cool to think about all the things that happened in the last year. In December, I visited my family in my hometown of Mexico State, right outside of Mexico City. It was the first time in seven years since I spent the holiday season at home. I spent a few months freelancing for the Morning News and Al Dia newspapers in Dallas until January, when I drove back to California. That drive was cool as I got to see a bunch of cool things. Colorado, Utah, the Grand Canyon were among the cool new places that I seen. I worked as a staff member for Cal State University, Northridge's student publication the Sundial during the summer semester. I had five tough courses during that semester, all of this while spending most of the spring semester being depressed. Personal issues got in the way of my productivity. It was the first time I had to fight through depression and give myself the confidence to believe in myself. It was tough as I tried to justify why I chose to do the things that I do as far as my career is concerned. Then, the San Angelo Standard-Times offered a summer internship. I was accepted to take part of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Society of Professional Journalists student project internships. And of course, the Sun-Sentinel was on the phone asking for my services as an intern. All of these opportunities contribute to the juice I am squeezing out of my education, juice that has definitely taken me off my depression and allowing me to be a more focused individual.

Today we remember those victims and the families who suffered because of the terrorist attacks on United States soil. The day has gone down in history and will be as important as the December 7 events at Pearl Harbor more than 60 years ago. I went to church for the sixth consecutive week. The sermon was cool as I listened to the priest talk about "forgiveness". It put a lot of things into perspective. Have we forgiven those who did that awful thing those historic mornings? Pearl Harbor led to a tough time w/ the kickoff of World War II. Sept. 11 kicked off the so-called War on Terror. Listening to the sermon made me wonder how many people hold grudges on what has happened in history. Then I started thinking about myself, instead of everyone else. Do I have any grudges? Do I dislike anyone? Have I forgiven all those who have done harm on me?

I am pleased to say that I do not have any enemies. There might be people out there who dislike me, but I do not hold any hard feelings against them. I rather not trouble myself w/ it. I can't think of anyone I dislike and/or have grudges to. Not even the person whose SUV plowed into the vehicle I was traveling in during a trip to Houston. I am not even rescentful that he/she decided to keep going and escaping the scene where our car spun out of control and being exposed to more damage as we traveled high speeds on Interstate Highway 10. Read more about the crash on Day 32 of my San Angelo Journal. The only thing I wish is the person who crashed into us has realized what he/she did and never does it again to anyone else.

Forgiveness, huh? It's a lot easier said than done, I thought as I heard the priest speak. It also sounds so easy as I write it down on this entry. But the bible passage that sparked this sermon puts it all into perspective. If we can't forgive those who have done harm onto us, then how can we expect to be forgiven for the bad things we do? If you are Catholic and recite the "Our Father" prayer, I hope you are aware that in the prayer you ask for God's forgiveness as we forgive those who do harm onto us. Just keep that in mind.

So, you might be wondering what's this bible talk has to do w/ a fall internship journal. It has absolutely nothing to do w/ it. But I am sharing this w/ you as a way to share you my thoughts and concerns during the internship. I have been far from Southern California for more than four months now. I have been out of the state for 11 out of the past 15 months. I am a little homesick. I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss my former co-workers and I miss my classmates. On days like today, when I should be enjoying my day off, I am stuck w/o many people to talk to, so I begin to miss my pals. I spent a lot of time at Borders today working on a few things. Being that I have only been here for a week, I haven't made too many friends. I am sure that will change soon as I start exploring more of South Florida, just like it happen in San Angelo. I remember being a loner for the first part of the summer. Then all of a sudden I had all kinds of people to hang out w/. So, for the time being, I need someone to share my thoughts w/ and that's you.

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