This could be the beginning of a war and if it was the end all I wanted was to be with him in the green peaceful sanctuary of Vermont.
While listening to the Pacific waves crash on Santa Monica beach I watched the plane crash into the twin towers on TV. In that moment, I knew then that all I wanted was to be with my husband in Brattleboro. He had flown home the day before. This could be the beginning of a war and if it was the end all I wanted was to be with him in the green peaceful sanctuary of Vermont. So, I set off in my rental car on a solo cross country journey to Vermont. New York City, is and, was an epicenter to me, my first jobs in international public health were there. I met my husband near the Flat Iron building. I studied Spanish on the 86th floor of the World Trade Center. It felt safer to be in Vermont post 9/11 not NYC and my husband and I have visited and worked in over 100 countries, felt recommitted to helping people in other countries. So, we founded GRACE Cares a non-profit that helps local heroes around the world help their communities. We are all connected on this planet and we can be international citizens no matter where we live.
Zoe Kopp