The last three weeks since the disaster at the World Trade Center have been grueling to say the least. I have been working on a daily basis almost twelve hours a day; my friends have lived at my house as their way of showing me support through this tough time – and I have been struggling with the fact that I have once again lost a friend this year. During this very tough and extremely painful time, everyone from my friends to my family to my co-workers have been warm, supportive – and understanding. But of all the people that have been helpful, of everyone I know that has tried to ease my pain – Christine has really been my tower of strength since the Twin Towers fell.

In the last twenty-one days – she has stayed by my side almost all the time; she has endured a house full of friends that has left us hardly any time alone – and she has wiped the tears from my eyes as I grieve over losing Doug – the whole time never getting angry, annoyed – or upset even once.

Starting a new relationship always comes with a probation period. The first few months together define what kind of a couple you will be. Since the day we committed our love to each other, there has been nothing that has ever tested our love – until now.

An event like this definitely tests a relationship. Not only was our City and country attacked in a very horrible way, which is stressful in itself because we both have to brace for whatever retaliatory acts are to follow – but we also lost a friend – one of my closest – and one of Christine’s newest whom she liked very much. So not only do we have to get over the attack – we both have get over the respective void in our lives.

To be honest, going through this tragedy is something I wished I did not have to live through – but since I have no choice but to live through it – I would not want to do so with anyone else but Christine. I recall times in my past when I had to live through some pretty tough things in my life and was with other women who during those tough times were belittling, unsupportive – and a detriment rather then an asset – not Christine – she has been nothing short of perfect through the last three weeks and will no doubt continue to be the rock she has been as we continue to deal with this, as my long days at the OEM Command Center continue – and as we approach the day of Doug’s memorial.

I thought that Christine was the perfect woman for me before September 11th – but since that day – she has shown me just how true that statement is all over again – and I am so grateful for that.

Doug always used to tell me that I better marry Christine one day – I think I just might take his advice.