I think any of us who were at least 10 years old on Tuesday September 11, 2001, can remember where we were that morning. I was a freshman in college at Michigan State University. It was the third week of class and I had IAH 201 from 8:00-9:50am. Class got out early, around 9:30, and we headed down the hall to the front door of the building. I could see a group of people standing in a half-circle near the entrance, and my first thought was "is there a fight and everyone is watching?!" But as I got closer I could see everyone was crowded around a 20-inch tv that had been wheeled into the hall. People were whispering and mumbling and I heard words like New York, hijackers, Pentagon.
I had been planning on walking back to my dorm room since it was a beautiful fall morning, but decided I needed to get back faster and took the bus instead. Sometime during that trip the first tower fell, and the fourth plane went down in Pennsylvania. I sat, alone in my dorm room, for the rest of the morning watching news coverage. I watched live as the second tower fell.
I can't even begin to describe my emotions that day. I was already stressed, being a mere 3 weeks into my college career (and going from a high school where my graduating class was 140 to a school of 45,000 didn't help). I was homesick, and had made only a couple of friends at that point. My professor cancelled our afternoon class so I had nothing to do the rest of the day.
An email went out to everyone involved in Campus Crusade that a prayer meeting was scheduled at the Rock for later that afternoon. I took my time walking across campus, looking at the trees and falling leaves and Red Cedar River. Such peaceful things, in a world of chaos.
I don't remember anything else from that day, or the days that followed. Everyone eventually moved on with their lives. My friends and I were not directly impacted by what had happened (we didn't know anyone in NYC). Every year on 9/11 I would remember where I was that day, but not until today did I really look back. I found a timeline on Wikipedia that detailed the events to the minute.
Ten years already?
They say the attacks of 9/11 were reminiscent of the surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor. Our grandparents and great-grandparents remember where they were on December 7, 1941. Now we have something similar to tell our children and grandchildren.
Where were you? Leave me a comment, or write your own blog post about that day and give me the link.
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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 sight 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
The greatest is love
The greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?
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The history of the song from Wikipedia:
Jackson was scheduled to perform at the Country Music Association's annual awards ceremony on November 7, 2001, to be aired on CBS. Originally, he planned to perform "Where I Come From", which at the time was the #1 hit on the Billboard country charts. But mere days before the awards show, Jackson's manager, Nancy Russell, played a recording of "Where Were You" for four of the CMA's top executives. All four were crying by the time the song ended.
The day before the show, CMT had a brief note on its web site that Jackson would be introducing the new song during the awards telecast. The next night, after an introduction from the show's host, Vince Gill, Jackson performed "Where Were You" seated on a stool, with an orchestra and backing singers behind him. At the conclusion of the five-minute-long song, the audience gave him an immediate standing ovation. This performance, along with the Vince Gill introduction, is used as the song's music video.
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I of course remember where I was that morning. I was at home and since my daughter was sleeping, I was in the shower and when I got out, the phone was ringing. It was my sister-in-law, telling me to turn on the TV. I went over, towel in my hair and turned on the TV and it seemed like days where all I could do was stay glued to the screen in disbelief. The song is so beautiful. It's been awhile since I heard it. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOh, and thanks for linking up to the NOBH! :)
ReplyDeleteI remember that day very clear as well. I was on my way to work and my hubby was in Atlanta on a business trip. I walked in work at 9am and there was a huge crowd in the front conference room. Very sad...
ReplyDeleteI was in my 12th grade Calculus class. We lived near an Air Force base and most of the students at my school were military. Needless to say, the day was extremely shocking. The teachers tried to keep it from us at first, but eventually turned on the televisions so that we could see what was going on. It is hard to remember what else happened around that time. But it's hard to forget the feeling of shock that morning.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story.
I was painting my kitchen chairs and watching TV, but not the news. A friend called me and told me what was happening. I was stunned. My children were at school. My husband came home early. I wondered if I should go get my kids early. I think the school ended at its usual time and they assured us parents not to worry. Then the eerie thing was that at the bus stop the rest of the week, it was so quiet. We normally heard lots of planes overhead, on their way to a nearby airport. It was spooky quiet.
ReplyDeleteIt was a day to be remembered. I watched all of it happen live on TV. I sat glued to the news for weeks. It impacted my then 2 year old daughter so greatly that I had to stop watching and move on with our life. I still can't talk, read, or hear about it without getting goosebumps and a pit in my stomach.
ReplyDeleteI am new to the NOBH crew and wanted to stop in to say hello and thank you for linking up with NOBH.
Very touching song about a day we'll never forget! Our son had been watching some kiddie show, and the TV was still on that channel. My mother-in-law called and said, "Are you watching the news? We're being attacked!"
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Friendly Friday!
I was teaching and let my students know what was going on. I had taught during the Challenger explosion and knew those moments were important in the classroom. It is so neat to hear other people's stories.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
I had just started a new job, in a new town. I had just left Boston for sunny San Diego. And everything changed after that!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience. What a beautiful song.
ReplyDelete