Where were you?

Today is the 10^th anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11. September 11, 2001 was the day that it seemed like the world just simply stopped turning. Life as we knew it ceased to exist. We entered a world of war, fear, terrorism and our freedoms being restricted a little at a time.

I wrote about my first thoughts on 9/11 two years ago on the eighth anniversary. The things that went through my mind as the events unfolded throughout the day. You can read that posting here: http://www.julianemarie.com/?p=297

I was going to watch all the coverage of the commemoration of the anniversary and even DVR’d the three hour report on NBC this morning. But, when I arrived home from church, I could only watch the first half hour to 45 minutes of the coverage then I had to stop watching. It was just so sad. The pain and grief of that day 10 years ago was still so strong and visible in all those who lost loved ones. It was so difficult to see. I finally decided that it wasn’t necessary in my life to experience other people’s grief when, if I really began thinking about, I have enough grief of my own to contemplate.

Back to the original question: Where were you? Where was I? I was in my apartment fixing breakfast for Dad and I and watching the Today Show. I saw Matt Lauer stop an interview to say that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I was watching as the plane crashed into the second tower. I watched the rest of the events unfold with horror and shock.

Those moments will live in my memory forever as they will for everyone else. It will always be one of those events that will be relived over and over by asking the question “Where were you?”. Such as “Where were you when the shuttle Challenger exploded?”, “Where were you when you first heard about the shootings at Columbine?”, and “Where were you when you first heard that (insert name of famous person) had died?”

There will always be shocking and momentous occasions that happen in life. But, despite what Alan Jackson sings in his song “Where were you when the world stopped turning?”, the world really doesn’t stop turning. It will go on and on. Our perspectives may have changed. Some of our innocense will be lost. We will be anguished and grieved. But the world will continue to turn. Sunrise to sunset. Day after day.

Yes, we need to commemorate those occasions when it felt like the world stopped turning. But let’s keep the memories of those we lost alive not by wallowing in grief or sorrow but to live our lives in the best way possible. We need to go on and do our best to make the world a better place. Because it won’t stop turning no matter what we feel or experience in Life. Life truly does go on.