September 11, 2001

Eleven years ago, I remember exactly what I was doing on that day.  The day started out like any other day.  Tyler was off to school, Jake was at Mother's Day Out, and I planned on doing some early Christmas shopping.  I was waiting for a friend to join me, standing in my kitchen when I heard the news.  I was shocked, and like so many others, I was watching as the 2nd plane hit the towers.  I immediately called my Mother.  She would make everything better, she always did.  She told me to pray.  Brian called to tell me NASA was on lockdown and being evacuated.  Would NASA be their next target?  I was horrified.  I was crying for all those people in the towers.  Crying for their families, and especially the children who would have to grow up without a parent.  I was crying for all of us, wondering what would happen next.

I picked Tyler up from school, Brian left NASA and picked Jake up from his Mother's Day Out.  We wanted our family to be together.  We tried to have some normalcy in the house with the kids home, hoping not to terrify them.  We watched the TV non stop, day and night, for what seemed like days.  It was hard to think, hard to function, hard to process what had happened. 

Alan Jackson's "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" song says it best for me.

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell
You the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Or go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Did you stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love? 

 

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell
You the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

And the greatest is love.

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?

It was hard to imagine what kind of impact this tragic event would have on our lives.  How many people had to die that day because we as a nation were hated.  Would they be satisfied with the damage done, or would they find new ways to act out their terror.  As the months went by people gradually resumed their normal lives and tried to put 9/11 behind them.  Now, 11 years later, it's still hard to replay that day in my mind. 

 

 

I pray that our nation never has to endure that kind of pain again. 

 

Never Forget.