Those moments in time -- you know, when you will forever remember where you were and what you were doing when. Seventeen years ago today I was in the classroom and heard the news of the first plane strike as I left that morning class. By the time I got to my office, a friend stopped by to note that a second plane had hit the towers. At that moment, I knew something earth shattering was happening. I went into my next class and asked the students to say what they needed to before we began the class. One student who had a parent in the House of Commons in Ottawa asked if she could go to call to be sure her family was OK. Others began to show that rumors ran rampant. When I left class I heard of the third and fourth planes. Shortly after the campus closed to allow us to head home to check in with those we knew. I heard from a friend in the city. Two friends had family members that were in the area and we waited almost 24 hours before finding that they were both safe.
On a trip to NYC years after this event, I went to Ground Zero. A new tower being built already rose high above the memorial park. The colleague I was with had been in high school on that day. We each felt the emotions as if they were brand new. Many others experienced this, too. I recall the many people who helped others on that day and days that followed. Across Canada, airplanes and cruise ships found harbours while borders and air space were closed. At a small airport on the island of Newfoundland, 38 super sized airliners landed -- most coming from across the Atlantic. The tiny town of Gander and other smaller towns in the area opened their homes to all those people -- offering showers, taking food to schools, gymnasiums and church basements, and helping people to contact home.
A newer musical about this day in Newfoundland focused on the best of humanity. Newfoundland is also affectionately called 'the rock.' The term for people that arrive from another part of the world is Come From Away or CFA. This became the title of the musical. I've heard rave reviews from people who have seen this. It remains on my 'must see' list. The success of the Broadway show led to a North American tour and other productions overseas. Today I share the opening song from that play. The lyrics make me smile and feel the emotions that I felt all those years ago. I will share a lyric video to help those not used to the local accent. Enjoy!
NOTE: there is language in these lyrics
Welcome the the Rock -- Come From Away cast
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