I’m pretty sure you all have a good idea where I’m going with this post, but I felt like this was a good forum to express something near and dear to all our hearts.

Note: This is my first Fanpost here, so I apologize if I come across as a n00b or something.

My dad used to work for a telecommunications company called Fujitsu, who did a lot of work with Verizon. It was a fairly high-end management position, where I believe he oversaw a big part of the company in the Northeast. I was 12 at the time, so I don’t remember all the details. But I do remember that it was a great job for him, paid him very well, and he enjoyed the work. Our family was in a very good financial position at the time.

Unfortunately, because of the troubling economy back in the summer of 2001, he was laid off by Fujitsu at some point during the first few days of September that year. He was scheduled to be in a meeting somewhere in the area of the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11th.

Since then, my dad has struggled to find or maintain jobs. His age (64) hasn't helped him, nor has the continued economic problems this country (and world) has been facing. Our family has been doing just enough to get by, but it hasn't been easy by any stretch. I know my mom has told me more than once that there were times where we could have qualified for programs like food stamps, though we never did. My parents have been using credit cards to help get us through these times, as I'm sure many families are as well. I recently graduated college this past May with a Masters in Engineering (Civil Engineering), and unfortunately, my parents are not able to pay for any part of my education, nor will they have for my younger brothers or sister.

But when I think about all this, and where our finances have been as a family for 10 years now, I have to stop and think just how lucky I am. My dad could have easily been one of the thousands of Americans who tragically lost their lives that day, if he had only been able to keep his job. So it should come as no surprise to anyone for me to say that I am thankful my father lost his job in early September 2001. If not for that, he may not still be here with all of us today. We may be struggling financially, but I would never trade him for all the money in the world, and I'm sure there are thousands, even millions, of people in this world who would give anything to have their loved ones back with them today.

And so, when some of us – myself included, believe me – bemoan the Giants’ injury situation, how unfortunate they’ve been thus far, how they’ve lost 6 key defensive players for the year before the season has even started, how Osi and Prince could be out a month, how Tuck may not play this week….I hope we can all look past all this, even for just a day, and stop to think about how lucky some of us are today, to have life, health, and loved ones around us.

I can’t say what will happen on Sunday, though I’ll be rooting like hell for a Giants win. But I know that, more than once, I’ll be thinking about what could have been, on this day, 10 years ago, and how no matter the financial struggles my family may be going through, or the injury curse my team seems to be infected with, I know that my father is still with me today, and all because of what we thought, at the time, was some really poor luck.

May all the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks rest in peace.