I don't remember where, exactly I was on September 11, 2001, when our world stopped turning......and, I have not in past years observed this anniversary.....but, I am for some reason, keenly aware of this one. I have to confess, I do not watch the news or read the paper....after spending hours and hours watching the war in it's early days, (I was glued to the t.v. to the point of distraction), I eventually had to break away and, honestly, I don't miss it. I know this probably makes me relatively ignorant of the world outside of my bubble, but, seriously, I like my bubble. However, I am aware enough to know that we have a new president and he's made promises about bringing home our military.....and, I guess what has me aware of this, the eighth anniversary of 9/11, is that as of yet, Osama Bin Laden has not been found and dealt with. And, I could go into a huge diatribe here about how our country is supposed to be the biggest super power in the world and you would think that by now WE should have found the bastard and swiftly dispatched him and his disciples.....but, all I can think about is this Alan Jackson song and that I am really not political and I barely know the difference between Iraq and Iran......so, I leave you with the lyrics and a prayer for those who lost a dear loved one...or two or more.....
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'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
The greatest is love
The greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Peace
10 comments:
Watching Live on TV, My Mom called right after the first plane hit told me to get up and turn on the TV we were under attack...Chilled me to the bones!
I have that alan song also as a tribute for my blog in just a couple of hours for tomorrow!
Open Heart:
What a beautiful tribute!
I had just put up my ironing board and hauled out several big linen tablecloths to iron. I decided to distract myself from the chore with one of the network morning news programs. I watched the whole thing unfold in real time - debating if I should turn it off, feeling at moments like a voyeur standing on the sidelines watching people suffer.
I called my husband at his business to tell him. He immediately said: "This means war."
How naive was I? I had not yet figured that out.
i was flying that morning...emergency landing in atlanta with the tens of thousands of other lost travelers...a surreal day. a fitting tribute and seeking your ending....peace.
I never turn on the TV. I, like you, like the bubble in which I live. And usually the television invades that bubble with information that sometimes I would prefer to live in denial of.
The morning of 9/11 I turned on the TV. Right as the second plane hit. Why? Why at that moment did I break tradition?
The upside was that at that moment every American stood by one another, joined. Where has that comradery gone? It was great to see our nation as a whole. The yearly rememberance of 9/11, if only fleeting, brings us back to that unity.
Thanks for your post. I happened here today sort of by accident, but glad that I did!
:-)
I am Canadian. I was at work, my husband phoned me as soon as it was occurring. Our whole office came to a stand still for the day. We hooked up a tv and there was not a dry eye all day. We could not function and our boss was right there with us. Just the horror of it and we all admire and respect the United States so much as they protect us with their solid armed forces. Personally we hung an American flag from our deck for over a year.
Thank you for this lovely tribute. I have been spending the day writing and reading about others' experiences. I did not want to have the recap from the mainstream media. As a matter of fact, it was not long after 9/11 that I stopped actively watching TV. It was, as many have said, just too much to take and process, yet you could not look away. By reading others stories and tributes, I have found an beautiful thread in our American tapestry. Sad but strong.
Your prose beautifully summarizes the moment. Again, thank you.
Cyndy
110 Penned
I was on the ninth day of my first year of teaching. I stood in front of a classroom full of fourth graders and had to tell them the unimaginable. And, the next day, I met them at the door with a smile. So did every other teacher across America. And, the next day, firefighters all showed up to work. And, the next day, police officers kissed their families and headed off to work. And, those things helped us all to know that everything was going to be all right. I think that's probably part of the definition of courage. We just keep on going - even when the world has stopped turning.
Roomie and I drove through the neighborhood tonight on the way to the shopping center and we noticed a side street as we passed....there were luminaries lining the street and a big huge banner highlighted with those luminaries, it was a tribute to the day....beautiful and amazing....saw many flags today, but, not as many as years before.....
Thank you all for your recollections, they were all beautiful and eye opening for me.....God Bless us ALL.....
Peace
S
We had just moved, to the East coast. We had been there, maybe a week. Cars were pulled over, on the side of the highway. I didn't know what was happening. The traffic from ct. to new york had come to a stop. My husband called me and told me to turn around, to do whatever I could and not go into the city.
xoxo
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