Ten years ago today I woke up to the beginning of a beautiful late summer day - much like this morning. On this same morning in 2001, the world changed in a matter of hours and my mind was quickly taken away from the beautiful shining sun and pleasant temperatures as I began to deal with the tragedy of the September 11th attacks. Today, while taking some time to tend to our yard, I thought of the nearly 3,000 people who would still most likely be with us today had it not been for the events of that fateful day. While reflecting on the senselessness of their deaths I realized how thankful I am for the number of times I've continued to see the sun come up as well as the experience of the changing seasons over the past ten years. I'm also thankful for the appreciation my dad, who died nearly 5 years ago, gave me for the outdoors and for the many growing things that are to be found there. I believe there really is beauty to be found in the world despite the loss we experience. Dad taught me through his tending of the land on his own small city lot that this beauty can be found as near as our own backyards and, more importantly, that we can have a part in creating it. It's good to be on the planet and to experience the outdoors!