‘I’ve always had a sense of pride’
■ Name: Deidre Anderson ■ Occupation: Director, Orange Grove Center residential program
■ How your life is different since 9-11: “I was at Parkridge (Medical Center) getting a physical when word of the attacks came on the TV in the waiting room. I’ve always had a sense of pride at being an American, and one of my first reactions to the attacks was a feeling of patriotism. In the waiting room was a man of a different ethnic background. He kept trying to make conversation. My instinct was to tell him, ‘Look, people are dying. This isn’t your fight, you aren’t an American.’ I was angry at his lack of reaction to the attacks. I’m a spiritual person, and that helped with my level of understanding about the attacks. The attacks brought an emphasis to appreciating life in all aspects, the good and the bad, and to valuing family and friends.”
■ Fears/hopes for the future: “With me being in my 30s, my attitude was ‘I’m going to live forever, time is on my side.’ I’m goal-oriented, but the attacks caused me to slow down, to stop and appreciate what’s here.”