As Americans, the collective innocence, held by many, died on that day, along with the 2,996 people. My children were 7 and 3. My school, had a strong contingency of children from Navy families. They stayed home that day and for many, even the week.

Some mothers say they wish they could go back to those former days with their children. I have rarely felt that way. As their mom, I am very curious about their current and future life. So, I ask lots of questions to learn what they are currently thinking and doing.

I became aware of Dahlias about five years ago. I have not yearly dug up the tubers and stored them in sawdust like all the directions state. I just wanted to avoid the chore of yearly digging them up, storing them, and then replanting the tubers again the next spring. Some of them would survive our wet winters here in the Northwest, but most of them would die. So, I would buy new tubers and plant them again. Last year I tried to wrap them in the ground with ziplock bags.

Getting out of the pool on the ladder was challenging. I almost gave up and started to crawl to the women’s locker room once my body was at the top of the ladder. So, I decided to try to add a lap every week to my swimming. Now, five months latter I am typically swimming for 30 minutes. I can get out of the pool without needing to crawl. It is just the concept of two steps forward, one step backward.

Reminds me of how often change requires us to get messy first. To take out the old before we put in the new. So, if you want to put in a new habit or change something in your life, be sure to take out the old before you put in the new.

So, when I first began in the early days of my multiple sclerosis, my goal started was being able to drive to the high school track and then be able to hoist my walker out of my car and then be able to put my walker back in the car and drive home. When I think back to those early days after diagnosis, I am glad I did not settle on staying there.

I was so fortunate to go on a fishing trip to Sitka Alaska with my father, sister Jill and brother Bob. Riley, Bob’s son, lives there and captains his boat, Outer Limits Charters. I wore a bright pink hat, so that if I fell overboard, it would be easy to see me.

Have you ever put on a piece of clothing that you haven’t worn for a couple months? As you dig into a pocket you discover money. Unexpected Money. It might be a large or small amount, yet regardless of the denomination, we get excited.

So, this week I want you to surprise a stranger. Wherever you find yourself:  a coffee line, a restaurant, a grocery store check-out line, a fast-food counter, the local library, or the veterinary offices. Scan the people in the area and pay ten- or twenty-dollars cash of their bill. Ask the person in charge to keep your identity private and tell them “It’s from Pay it Forward.”