Where were you when the world stopped turning...?

Just like I remember what I was doing when ~

the assassination attempt was made on President Reagan's life (my 18th birthday, I was at the mall when I heard about it from a Belk's employee)…
The Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean (January 28, 1986–my brother's birthday–I was at work in Atlanta)…
John F. Kennedy was assassinated (okay, I don't really remember this because I was a baby, but it was on my sister's birthday and I just realized that major U.S. tragedies have occurred on mine and my siblings' birthdays…!)

–like you, I remember what I was doing when I learned about the planes crashing into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York City on September 11, 2001. Sitting in my office, a co-worker walked in and announced "A plane just crashed into one of the Twin Towers in New York." When she told us a second had crashed, I walked down the hall to find a group standing around a television, watching live coverage, confused and disbelieving.

Shortly afterwards, I left to visit a friend whose birthday is September 11; I remember ducking as I looked up at a beautiful blue sky, wary pieces would begin to fall from nowhere.

Like you, we were glued to television for days, ravenous for news that would make sense of it all. Though information poured in, explanation defied logic.

Our nation rallied, and for a season it really did feel like "…one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all."

Today, America collectively remembers while 10,000 stories are being told and retold. This poignant song by Alan Jackson manages to capture the essence of what we were feeling on that world-changing day ten years ago.

Beautifully and significantly Jackson's lyrics reminds us that some things never change–

"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…."

Yes and truly, the greatest of these is love.

Tags: Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning), Alan Jackson, Alan Jackson Videos

The stunning painting at the top of my post is "Twin Towers" by the creatively and wonderfully talented Chattanooga artist, Brent Sanders. Commissioned by the Times Free Press for its cover today, "Twin Towers" is available for purchase (100% of the proceeds for the original piece benefit Chattanooga's Red Cross).

4 Comments

Karmyn R on at

A good friend of mine was in the hospital on this day – losing her 1st baby (8 months along. He had a heart defect). And it was her birthday. Ten years later she has two healthy sons but that day means more to her than it ever did to me.

Jennifer on at

Also remembering today on my blog, this day 10 years ago. Hard to believe that much time has passed. I love this Alan Jackson song. It is one of those ‘lump in your throat’ songs.

Pamela on at

Oh yes. I remember this and those.
Great Auntie Fern remembers amazing things.
You know… Pearl Harbor, Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic, World War I She was 3 when she lost her mother in January 1912. She remembers the horses pulling the wagon that carried her mother’s coffin. Then she speaks clearly of the hubub that spring when the Titanic sunk.

Rachel on at

I’m too young to remember Reagan and Kennedy, but I will never forget watching the Challenger explode. Yes – I stood outside my elementary school, cheering for the launch, looking for the white dots of the solid rocket boosters falling to earth. We cheered until white streaks suddenly appeared and everything fell silent as we knew something had gone horribly wrong.
And I will never forget learning about the towers falling from the FedEx guy. I was a senior in college and was home because I had no classes that day. I spent the day glued to the TV, my package forgotten. All I did that day was hug my baby tight. I tried to do useful things, like laundry and studying, but they were so meaningless when compared to what had just happened.

Karmyn R on at

A good friend of mine was in the hospital on this day – losing her 1st baby (8 months along. He had a heart defect). And it was her birthday. Ten years later she has two healthy sons but that day means more to her than it ever did to me.
Jennifer on at

Also remembering today on my blog, this day 10 years ago. Hard to believe that much time has passed. I love this Alan Jackson song. It is one of those ‘lump in your throat’ songs.
Pamela on at

Oh yes. I remember this and those.
Great Auntie Fern remembers amazing things.
You know… Pearl Harbor, Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic, World War I She was 3 when she lost her mother in January 1912. She remembers the horses pulling the wagon that carried her mother’s coffin. Then she speaks clearly of the hubub that spring when the Titanic sunk.
Rachel on at

I’m too young to remember Reagan and Kennedy, but I will never forget watching the Challenger explode. Yes – I stood outside my elementary school, cheering for the launch, looking for the white dots of the solid rocket boosters falling to earth. We cheered until white streaks suddenly appeared and everything fell silent as we knew something had gone horribly wrong.
And I will never forget learning about the towers falling from the FedEx guy. I was a senior in college and was home because I had no classes that day. I spent the day glued to the TV, my package forgotten. All I did that day was hug my baby tight. I tried to do useful things, like laundry and studying, but they were so meaningless when compared to what had just happened.