Where were you?

I suppose those three words, if said in the right tone of voice, would be understood by most every American as to mean, 'where were you when it happened'. 

I was on Hillsboro Road, right in front of the McDonald's, and my phone rang.  My Dad was known to call me most every morning and we'd talk on our rides in to work.  On this particular morning, he sounded grim.  He said, "Honey, turn your radio to NPR.  Something is going on in New York City."  Well, something is most always going on in the City, so I was a little confused by his tone.  He said they were saying that a bomb had exploded in one of the twin towers.  In the course of our conversation, the second one hit and by then, they knew they weren't traditional bombs.  They were planes used as bombs.  Our planes with our people on board.

We hung up the phone and I went into my office where people were gathered around a television typically used for watching sports that happened to occur during work hours.  People were crying and confused.  Dad called me back to tell me to go get an oil change.

I'll never forget that.  He was convinced that oil would become scarce due to the suggested connection with the terrorists and the Middle East.  I left to go get the oil change and my building was soon evacuated due to a bomb threat.  People were going nuts that day.  The crazies came out of the woodwork and started tampering with the emotions of those that worked in tall buildings.  I called my boss when I couldn't get back in the building and she was already heading home.  It was too emotional to work that day so she told everyone to go home. 

Later that day, David, who at the time was just a "guy I went out with every once in a while" called from Knoxville where he was working that week to say hello.  It was in that conversation that I believe I started to love him.  Almost like the emotions of the day started bringing people, specifically us, together.

I've tried to never be overly caught up in the tragedies that occurred on September 11, 2001.  As horrific as they were and as many lives that were lost, it seems almost like it was meant to be for our fast paced and egocentric society.  It was a reminder to everyone across these United States that we were one.  That we, no matter race, religion, color or creed, were in this together.  Personalities and interrelations of human beings, here in Nashville and most definitely in New York were changed for the better.  If only for a little while.

The tragedy somehow united us.  In a way that we hadn't been for a very long time.  If ever, really.

I'll also never forget September 11, 2002.  As I was making that same drive to work, talking to Dad, I saw one of the most beautiful sights I'd ever seen.  The Middle Tennessee Hot Air Balloon Organization had organized themselves to have 12 hot air balloons floating above the Downtown Nashville skyline.  Some were dangling American flags and others had flags with peace signs.   Huge balloons with huge flags high above our buildings reminding us that we were Americans and we were to be promoters of peace.  It was magical.

I can hardly believe that in 3 short days, 10 years will have passed since that morning that the world really did stop turning.  I still think about those families that lost loved ones and how their lives were so drastically altered.  I also think about all of those peaceful followers of Islam that have suffered 10 years of hell because of what a few radicals did.  I think about all of those men and women that have either lost their lives or become paralyzed, mentally ill or tragically injured because of the war that followed that day.  None of it is right.  None of it is easy to understand.

I think we all learned a lesson or two from that fateful day.  I hope we've used those lessons more for the good and less for the bad.  I know I have.