Saturday, September 11, 2010

I will never forget...





Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning
Alan Jackson

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising 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 in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to 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 that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
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 love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
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

I will never forgot that horrific day, September 11, when those beautiful places were destroyed by cowardly, evil attacks. Even now, I can remember everything like it was yesterday. The song by Alan Jackson that I referenced above still brings tears to my eyes.

I was in Pennsylvania, visiting my family. I was five months pregnant with my second child. I had just put my youngest in her high chair to get her some breakfast, while I got our stuff ready to go back home to DC. I turned on the television to turn on PBS for her. The television was on one of the local news stations from the night before. I had turned it on to see the second tower being hit by the plane. I sat on the coffee table as I felt my knees go weak. As I watched in stunned silence, my dad called from work to ask if I heard about it. I told him I had it on as tears streamed down my face. When I had found out that the third plane hit the Pentagon, I lost it. I knew I had friends at the Pentagon, and my husband at the time worked in another government building in DC. I tried to call him, but phone lines were already insane. His father called me to see if I had heard from him, as he was as worried as I was. My father left work, because he was concerned about me going into labor early from the stress. My parents wouldn't let me go home, as we didn't know what was going to happen at this time. I just wanted to go home and have my family together. Life seemed to have gotten so much shorter.

These horrendous attacks took so many lives, so many loved ones. I am fortunate to not have had anyone I loved injured in those attacks. A close friend was in the Pentagon when the plane hit, but thank the Lord she was on the other side. She had just left a meeting in that section. Even though I am not personally effected by this tragedy, it does not mean that my heart doesn't go out to the friends and families of those who were. Thank you to those who volunteered to go to these sites to help the victims. Bless those who lost their lives in those buildings and in those planes. Bless and protect those who serve and still defend us today. I will never forget...