Answering Alan Jackson

Within just a few weeks of September 11, 2001, Alan Jackson wrote a song that managed to capture perfectly the confusing swirl of emotions that Americans were feeling.  It was remarkable because these thoughts and emotions felt so personal yet apparently they were universal.  I have always nodded my answers to his questions but today... on the 10th anniversary... I'm going to write them down for posterity's sake and share them with my children.

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?  Upstairs in my bedroom folding laundry at our house in Belleville.  Three of our children (ages 6, 4, almost 2) were downstairs playing.  Baby Joseph (8 months) was with me.  My dad called to ask if I was watching television.

Were you in the yard with your wife and children Or working on some stage in L.A.?

Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke

Risin' against that blue sky?  Yes.  Once the second plane hit and I realized this was no accident, I had to clutch the bedpost for support.

Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
 Or did you just sit down and cry?  Once the first tower fell and I realized that I had just watched scores of firemen die, the bedpost quit working and I sank to the ground sobbing.

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
 And pray for the ones who don't know?  Yes, so many tears and so many prayers that day... urgent, real time prayers.

Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
 And sob for the ones left below?  Yes.

Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue  Absolutely, but that was not new to me.

And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?  Those were the hardest losses to me.  My father is a retired police officer and his father was a fireman.  Plus, there was something about seeing all of those first responders rushing into those towers as everybody else was rushing out.  Eternal rest grant them, O Lord.

Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer  Still do.

And look at yourself and what really matters?  Still do.

I'm just a singer of simple songs  Yeah, me, too.

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  Same here.

But I know Jesus and I talk to God  Same here.

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  Amen, Alan Jackson.  Amen.

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
 Were you teaching a class full of innocent children  I was raising a house full of innocent children.

Or driving down some cold interstate?
 Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor   Yes and I wasn't even at risk that day.

In a crowded room did you feel alone?  Yes.

Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?  I called because she was in the hospital at the time.

Did you dust off that Bible at home?  Sure did.

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened  Yes.

Close your eyes and not go to sleep?  Often.

Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages  Yes!  I noticed things like weeds along the side of the road and how they had such pretty flowers.  Then I felt sorry for God that He would bless us with flowering weeds and yet humanity could be guilty of such depravity.

Or speak to some stranger on the street?  Yes.  You could say to someone at the store, "Isn't it awful?" and they would know exactly what you were talking about.  And they wouldn't think you were weird for saying it.

Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow  For the first time, I lost my certainty that the continental U.S. was impervious to attack.  I know that is not a luxury that citizens of other nations have ever felt but it had been our reality.  Now, without warning, that innocence was shattered.  It was very frightening.

Or go out and buy you a gun?  I'm all in favor of gun ownership, but that didn't seem necessary for me, personally.

Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
 And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?  Yes, violence no longer seemed entertaining but more like rubbing salt in a wound.

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers  Yes, Mass that night at Christ the King parish in Ann Arbor.

Did you stand in line and give your own blood?  I tried to but the response was overwhelming for the Red Cross and they were asking people to call and schedule appointments well into the future.

Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
 Thank God you had somebody to love?  Absolutely.

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.