Today is not about politics. It is not about Barack Obama or John McCain. Today is not even about George Bush or Iraq. Today is about the horrible attack on the United States seven years ago and the people that were lost that day. We will never forget.
I wrote this post back in August knowing I would not feel up to writing it today. It is called September 11th Reflections Through Memory And Music. I would like to add one more song to it for today because I AM proud to be an American. God bless the USA.
I walked out my my front door that fateful morning and was filled with the feelings of hope and appreciation. How could that beautiful and clear sky not inspire those feelings in someone? It was one of those perfect September days with zero humidity promising a spectacular preview to fall. How could anyone have known the horror of what the day would bring? Many other feelings would well up in me throughout the course of the day. However, hope remains.
I was in my office when the news of the horrific plane crashes started rolling in. When everyone heard about the crash into the pentagon, it finally started to sink in that we were under a terrorist attack. Business went on as usual which totally blew my mind. How could anyone think of business at a time like this? Didn't they understand what was happening and that none of that mattered right now???
I left work early to go pick up my son from daycare. There were low-flying helicopters everywhere in the sky above. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was in a war zone. I have always felt pretty safe in the United States but that secure feeling vanished on that deceivingly beautiful day.
The drive home is probably the most memorable part of 9/11 for me. I heard the first death counts from the airplanes that crashed into the Twin Towers. I remember feeling numb yet the tears I shed showed that grief had set in despite the numbness. As I heard about the heroics of the passengers on the plane that crashed in the Pennsylvania field, I mourned their loss but also felt a swell of pride for my fellow Americans that saved further destruction.
Speaking of my fellow Americans, I will never forget their eyes on that day. Traffic was moving slowly due to the fact that many people left work early. I looked at the faces of the people driving towards me. There were looks of shock, sorrow, anger and disbelief. I think we all felt the need to connect with one another because many drivers caught my eye and we nodded at each other. I must say that was a first during rush hour. For weeks to come, people really treated each other better. It is a shame that faded away with time.........
Hope and appreciation....they remain. Sadly enough, so does anger. Regardless of President Bush's status today, his speech regarding the happenings on September 11th made me feel just a little bit better. I wanted to fight back and strike down those who caused such anguish for my country. This song "Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue" by Toby Keith, echoed my sentiments. Singing along to it helped to soothe my angered spirit.
The music by The Eagles has always brought me a feeling of peace and comfort. My Eagles didn't let me down during a time when the world needed a song to heal. "Hole In The World Tonight" by The Eagles:
The song that hits home the most for me is "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning?" by Alan Jackson. Every time I hear that song, every word I wrote above starts to play in my mind like a movie reel. It does not matter how old I get, my memories from September 11th, 2001 will always be just as clear as that beautiful September sky.
The terrorists changed a lot of things that day and took so many precious lives. One thing they can never change is the American spirit. UNITED WE STAND. God Bless America and all of her citizens. Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?
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