Each of us, especially in the United States, will not likely forget September 11th and the terror and mourning that followed. In the midst of all the panic created, who could live with an expectation of happy times. Suddenly everything we took for granted like security and safety all flew out with the shards of glass and masses of concrete that collapsed and crumbled amongst the lives and rubble within the Twin Towers in New York. The days that followed, increased tensions nationwide and airport securities were stepped up to help insure such an event would not happen again. I was managing the security/ loss prevention dept for FAO Schwarz, Las Vegas during this time. In all the investigation of the attacks on New York, it was disclosed by the local news that some of the terrorist involved had been in Las Vegas the month prior to the attacks. The police began checking with area locations asking for surveillance feedback that might support their other evidence. In reviewing our video files, we discovered that at least 2 of the terrorists were in fact in our store. It was a trembling reminder that terrorism can be anywhere, at anytime. It isnt one act that is the terror, its the thought created that it could happen to you.

Kirk's mother put the word out through the family netwave that she would prefer none of the family travel at that time. Kirk and I suddenly felt our wedding plans eclipsed by everything else happening. I had not made my wedding dress, and when the material arrived, I was feeling it might be pointless to consider. I waited, Kirk waited and we both knew and felt time ticking away and no real plans to back our October 4th wedding day. Then Kirk told me, we should just plan to have a wedding in Las Vegas. Kirk went out of his way to pledge his faith in our wedding plans, he proved this by creating our "new" revised wedding invitation. A beautiful work with the "Kirby Thor" flare and a touch of "Gone with the Wind" thrown in. All my worries melted with that one gift. Kirk is a talent in many ways, but always at winning my heart.

We had some wonderful days following, in spite of what was going on in the world around us. We made a few trips together to visit wedding chapels around Las Vegas and little by little things came together. There are some beautiful horse stables near Mt Charleston in Las Vegas, that we considered, but in the end I still got my dream for a waterfall in the background and a botanical garden around us. Its amazing what you can find literally in your own backyard if you take the time to look. The Embassy Suites in Las Vegas, where we were eventually married was actually 250 ft from our own apt door! If there is KIZmet... it was there.