The tsunami in Indonesia. I was in Ontario that Christmas, and heard about the tsunami, but didn’t think much of it at the time. When I realised what the impact was (days later), I felt pretty bad about it.

9/11 – was lying in bed listening to the news when the first plane hit, and my first thought was what a horrible accident. I got up and put on CNN and saw the second plane hit and knew that something else was going on. I went in to work (Schlumberger in the old Merak building) and hardly anyone was around. I eventually found a huge (and very silent) crowd around a large television. My manager called from Houston mid-morning to say that their office was being shut down and they were being sent home. Given the amount of work that didn’t get done – they might as well have done that in Calgary too. One of my co-workers spent several days in California waiting for flights to resume so he could come home.

Mount St Helens – I didn’t hear about it until much later in the day – as I was working on my suntan at the Sandbanks with some friends. I did have a friend in university who lived in Nanaimo BC, and they heard the blast there.

First, 9/11. I wasn’t due to be at work until 10am that day at Critical Mass. I had spent a quiet morning at home electing not to turn on the television or radio and puttered about before having to leave to catch the bus to get to work. The first person to tell me about it was Dewi, and as I entered the gates he asked if I heard about what happened in New York. He said that two planes had crashed into the World Trade Centre Buildings. I said, “Sure Dewi, whatever.” He then said that one had crashed into the Pentagon as well. That’s when I said, “Now I know you’re full of it Dewi. What movie did you watch?” Which is when he said to me, “Why do you think we’re all out here in the parking lot listening to the news on the radio from the company vehicle?” That’s when I noticed a lot of fellow CM’ers listening and looking a bit bewildered.

I remember the day my Mom died as it happened to be the same day that the Oklahoma City bombing occured. Very unsettling day for sure.

As for Mount St. Helens, I happened to be in Spokane, Washington for a long weekend when it happened. I remember that it was a sunny day, quite bright. We were having lunch when we noticed that it seemed like night was falling very, very fast. The ash in the air had completely blocked out the sun and everything was covered in grey talcom powder – like ash. We were stranded in Spokane for 4 or 5 extra days. If we went outside at all we had to wear dust masks so we wouldn’t inhale too much ash. We collected some to bring home with us. On the drive home, I remember my dad had to change the air filter in the car at least four times before we hit the Canada/US border. It was pretty exciting for little five-year-old me!

Oddly enough, though, I have no specific memory of things like Pope John Paul II’s death, Mount St. Helens’ eruption, or the London Bombings. Curious, eh?

Since then – went from working for a small company to a HUGE multinational (small one was sold). Got laid off, took a year off, had knee surgery, started working on contract, lost both parents and both in-laws, acquired another dog (now have 2), renovated, re-developed my passion for photograhy and embraced the digital age, traveled, watched my God children grow from babies to almost teenagers – and most importantly, went through some difficult times and found light on the other side. I’m more patient, more compassionate.

And – I do remember that Mother Teresa died that summer too – although I don’t remember where I was when I heard about that

Since then I have worked at three other universities in six other jobs, sung in six different choirs, performed on stage with some of my musical heroes, moved to the UK and managed to remain childless – which, for me, is a good thing. That’s not to mention the incredible journey I have taken to become the woman I am today and hope to become in the future. I like myself now in a way I never have before and life keeps getting better. I am a better human being now. Whoever said that highschool or university is the best time of your life is full of crap! I love my thirties and I’m excited for my forties and beyond.

That’s the short synopsis of the last ten years of my life.

Also – and this really is the more important point – a HUGE congrats to you and Alex on the arrival of Baby Sowrey. I’m really happy for you, Geoff. Well done all around!

Do you suppose because of the little one that the next 10 years will be somehow more predictable that the last ten? By the way, congrats!

I don’t remember where I was when Diana died, but I do remember where I was when the Challenger blew up, and when 9/11 happened. Do you have any other such moments etched in your memory?

And just think, 16 years ago plus 2 more days, you had the (mis)fortune of rooming beside some big guy from a small town and a skinny guy from a big town. If I remember, a certain little game called “Monkey’s Island” helped with the introductions…