Fifteen Years Ago

This evening I've been thinking about the horrible tragedies of the terrorist attacks fifteen years ago.  I remember vividly being in my Old Testament class, near my dorm at FSU and being told that a plane had crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center.  I didn't know at the time what a big deal it was, but then I went back to my dorm and saw the events unfolding on the news.  It became the most significant world event in my memory.

I was a freshman in college, having been away from home for just a few weeks.  I was immediately worried for the safety of my country, as well as my personal safety.  I remember having the (irrational) thought process that I was in danger because I was in the capital of the state where the POTUS was at that time (in an elementary school in Sarasota).  I talked to my dad on the phone and he reassured me that I was in no immediate danger, which helped.

Classes were cancelled for the rest of the day, so we had plenty of time to sit around and watch the news, which I could only handle so much of.  At one point, I just had to leave the common rooms with the TVs and retreat to my quiet dorm room.

It seemed like American Flags started popping up everywhere, right away.  There were vigils and devotionals on campus, a special prayer meeting in our LDS Singles Ward, and an overall feeling of community and brotherly love that continued to touch me for months after 9/11.

One of the things that stands out to me happened the day after the attacks.  On Wednesdays, all freshmen in the School of Music were required to participate in a seminar in which a professor from a different discipline within the SoM presented each week.  I had been eagerly anticipating the seminar we would have on 9/12, which was to be given by Dr. Michael Bakan, a renowned ethnomusicologist (which is kind of like an anthropologist who studies a culture's music).  But due to the events of the week, Dr. Bakan stood up in the hall where we were assembled on 9/12, and didn't once mention ethnomusicology.  As I recall, he simply told us that there are times when music is a better mode of communication than mere speech.  Then he played "In My Life" by The Beatles.

There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

In my life I love you more

Writing about this, the memories and emotions of 9/11 and the period following are suddenly fresh again.  What a horrible series of tragedies, and what a chain of events the day set into motion.

My kids are learning about 9/11 in school, but I hope they'll remember my perspective as part of history as well.