September 11, 2014
It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song is from the the 2001 album, Escape, by Enrique Iglesias.
It is difficult to believe that it has been 13 years since the 9/11 attacks. Today’s song always comes to my mind on this day.
I still remember the exact moment when I learned that a plane hit the World Trade Center. I was living in southern California at the time and had two small children home – ages 2 and 5. We have always been early risers and my kids were already up sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast just before 6am, and my husband had just left for work. I had the Today Show playing in the family room and I remember hearing in the background that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I immediately ran over to the TV and sat and watched as live coverage was shown. I called my husband to tell him and sat there with him on the phone as I watched live coverage of the second plane flying into the second tower, and then watched the towers collapse. It was an unbelievable moment and one I will never forget. I can actually remember feeling physically ill.
Sometimes the whole event is still so surreal. I often forget that there was life before 9/11. My children really have not known life before 9/11, being only 5 and 2 when it happened. There is certainly a post-9/11 world and that is their reality.
This song brings back all of those memories for me because I remember about a week later there was a 9/11 tribute show called “America: A Tribute To Heroes” that was simultaneously broadcast on all of the major networks plus other channels (totaling 35 stations!). It ran commercial free and was a telethon-style show that aired from three separate studios – Los Angeles, New York, and London – and raised money for all the victims of the tragedy. I remember sitting and watching every moment of that show with tears streaming down my face. It seemed that everyone was involved. I actually called in and made a donation 3 separate times that night as I was just so emotionally struck by the whole event – from the tragedy days earlier, to the outpouring of shock, love, and support from across the world. I think that is what I actually remember the most: People and the feeling of unity. It was truly amazing.
For some reason, this song really resonated with me and Enrique’s performance was so incredibly emotional that I have just never forgotten it. I wanted to share that performance with you today in remembrance of 9/11. I would love to hear your memories of that day and hope you will share.
Never, Ever Forget. Peace and love!
