The Marriott Hotel

Yesterday I had a chance to visit Marriott Hotel after so many years. Last time I was there was way before the first bomb in 2003.

These recent bombings changed a lot of the hotel’s outer appearance from how I remembered it. Being there again after knowing that hotel has gone through two bombings attacks kind of give me chills thinking of those darkest days of the hotel history and most of all of the innocents’ people fell victims of such a cruel acts.

My brother who is currently working there told me where the blast originated and how the whole restaurant we were sitting at got ruined. Now the whole place looks amazing, packed with people enjoying their delicious lunches. One would never guess that there were such tragedy took place there. He showed me the ‘ground zero’, it had a complete makeover and turned into a brand new restaurant.

We talked about the occupancy on the hotel and he said it still suffers tremendously. Since I used to work at a hotel, I know how occupancy numbers tells you how good a hotel is doing, financially. People are still afraid to stay there he said. To me, the Marriott would be the safest hotel one could stay at now and no I’m not being biased because my brother works there but logically they had probably tripled their security measured to ensure there won’t be any third attack on their premises. I’m sure an international 5 star hotel chains like them would be doing everything in their power to prevent any more bombing.

This small talk with my brother got me thinking…if we stop going places, stop doing things for the fear of terrorist attacks then they, the terrorist had won! They had inflicted terror in us. We are letting them win if we continue down this path. Life must go on and no one knows what the future will bring us. Only God knows when our time to ‘check-out’ from this world right? So why living in fear when everyday is a gift.

Same feelings enfold my mind when I’m thinking of all these natural disasters around my country as of lately. Earthquakes here and there…as a mother yes I have fear that it might occur again and the only thing that I worry most is the safety of my son but worrying won’t help me living my life. What example would it shows Lil’ A if his mother is too afraid to go places because of terror threats or natural disaster. This doesn’t mean that I am careless about our safety, the point is there’s only so much a human being can do to protect themselves but when it is time for us to go then nothing can stop that, right?

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~ Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive — the risk to be alive and express what we really are. ~ Don Miguel Ruiz