eight years have passed and some of it all seems like yesterday. the gorgeous blue skies, the fresh crisp september air, unseasonably warm but still so fresh and clean. not a cloud in the sky.
i am not sure there is anyone out there that doesn’t remember where they were that day, at that very moment. hubs and i had spent a night in the city on 9/10/01. tickets to a michael jackson concert brought us into the city that never sleeps, we considered spending the night but instead decided to train it home, and head into work a little late to catch up on the sleep i had lost from staying out long past my bedtime on a “work night”.
i had set the radio to wake me up about 9 am…as soon as it clicked on, something wasn’t right. there was no music, just the regular crew at WPLJ talking about a small single engine plane that some how crashed into one of the towers. in disbelief and confusion, i grabbed the remote, turned on the TV and saw an image that just about brought me to my knees. at that very second, clear as day, another plane, obviously on a mission and with no mistake, collided with the second tower. the intial reports were obviousl wrong.
i immediately called my hubs (not yet my hubs at the time) told him to get up, turn on the news and pack up his stuff and head in. what was supposed to be a day off for him turned into a lot of long days and work into the night. he knew he had to go. there was no need to wait for the call.
i tried to gather my thoughts, get out the door. it was just a day we all needed to be with each other. with other people. i think it was to realize that it was all infact happening. the roads were empty but there was still news of planes in the air. we all kept our eyes on the sky as we drove to our destinations. cellphones stopped working. there was no contact with anyone in the city. fear was setting in. and the unknown was just lurking quietly.
another crash and then another. i got one call through to hubs as he continued his journey from the island to the city. the smell of smoke, the site from the bridge, it was like a movie. buildings were crashing. BUILDINGS, as tall as the eye could see. landmarks. a staple in our cities skyline. gone. like they were never there before.
there was such a heavy feeling in the air. as much as everyone was talking about what was going on, it was eerily quite. we watched on a small portable TV i had picked up from hubs on my way in. it was not to be believed. this just doesn’t happen.
we spent the day in fear and wonder. we headed home to watch developments for hours. we watch people walk from NYC to the outer boroughs. strangers handing out glasses of water to people covered from head to two in sweat, blood and soot. this is not something you expect to see on the LOCAL news. we finally made contact with some that we could not get in touch with during the attacks. they were safe. but so many were not.
it was hard to sleep at all that night. not so much from the fear of it all but from the thought of all those in pain. those who were suffering. the families that had lost so much.
at sunrise on 9/12/01 mixed in with this horrible sickening feeling that this was not infact a bad dream, was an overwhelming feeling of patriotism, unity and family. a family of millions uniting to help families cope. helping NY’s bravest and finest dig and sift through the rumble for endless hours, hoping for nothing more than the saving of just one more victim. i don’t think there was one car to pass without some sort of sticker, magnet or American flag attached to it.
i don’t remeber when it all started to subside. the shock of it all. i do remeber the TV shows coming back on. the Yanks hitting the field again. concerts were back on schedule. and 8 years later it is still surreal.
a wedding, two babies, a new brother in law, two nieces, a couple dozen holidays, and way too much in between. 8 years. it’s hard to believe. monuments and memorials are still in the works, some are complete. but the pain for those who lost that horrific day will never go away.
take pictures. make memories. laugh. let them know you love them. you never know what tomorrow brings.
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