So, Where Were You?: September 11, 2001

As we approach another September 11th, I offer an article I wrote in 2011. Ten Years Later... Alan Jackson wrote the song Where Were You... and I don't think anyone does not remember their day.

Today, 10 years later, I was (almost) back there.

On my way to visit John this morning, my radio (seemed) taken over (again), not by Peter Jennings, but by excerpts of the horrendous events of 2001. I didn't want to hear this! I turned the station, but there was someone singing 'God Bless America'. I turned it back. I might as well listen.

On my 25 minute drive I was choked up as if it was 2001. I tried not to remember the drive that day.

Back then, I was still driving my 1979 Chev Silverado pickup. As the tires clicked along, listening to all the reports, I couldn't still the feeling of dread that I was going to be affected by this tragedy.

I'm driving my $100 car, my 1990 Olds Cutless Supreme. I haven't come very far in 10 years. I'd had my new car... a 2005 Chev Malibu Maxx.... and had it repoed. I'm still going to the same prison complex to see John. Different prison. Now I visit on Sundays... back then it was a Tuesday.

When the first plane hit, I was sitting in my upstairs apartment, writing out checks to pay my bills. My TV was still in my camper, just a half mile as the crow flies from the prison, so I was listening on the radio. It was probably a small plane, they were saying. When I started out in my truck, the second plane hit. We were in BIG trouble. The foreboding was horrible.

I was driving the same road in my Olds... some reporter was recalling getting up close to the tower, then realizing he needed to back up to get the whole picture... When he backed up far enough to see he was overcome by emotion because he was seeing people jumping to their deaths.

When I parked my truck and went to the waiting area, I was the second person in line. Me and that woman got all the way to the visiting room. No one was in there. It was eerie. We looked at each other and sat down. A few minutes later, a guard came in and told us we'd have to go back out front for a while.

When I parked my car today, I shut off the radio, went in and forgot about it. Oh, John and I discussed it a bit, but I didn't have to listen to it anymore. We discussed what had happened on that day.

That woman and I waited out front for a half hour, then a Corrections Officer came out and announced there would be no visiting today. The President had sent out a proclamation for all non-essential government workers to be sent home. For the prison, that meant the guards in the visiting room.

I went to my trailer. I was going to get my TV. Instead, I turned it on. If I hadn't already been in shock, I went into shock at what I was seeing. A few minutes later, the phone rang. It was Johnny. He had seen my truck. Knew I'd been there. Knew I'd go to the trailer. How did he know? I didn't even know.

I took my TV back to the apartment and watched it for 3 days. Since then, I've lived in the upstairs apartment for a year and a half... then moved downstairs and been there ever since. I threw my TV out a couple months ago. (Analog)

Today, of course, was uneventful, but it still is amazing that even though I was not in any of the areas that were struck, I was still affected by the tragedy.

We all were.

Tiana Dreymor

September 11, 2011

Copyright - Vista 15

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