"Where were you when the world stopped?"

It's hard to believe it has been 24 years since the world came to a crashing stop for a few minutes. It was September 11, 2001, a time when we all came together as one. It is a shame that it takes something so horrific to unite this country. It shouldn't be that difficult, but unfortunately, it usually is.

I remember that day, sitting in a news room, typing away on several stories I was working on. There were several others there as well and the sound of flying fingers on keyboards was like a song of what was to come. As was our nature, the television was on in the news room - turned to one of the major news channels - just in case something major happened. It rarely did, but, just in case.

I happened to glance over just as across the screen it showed a commercial airplane slamming in to one of the twin towers in New York City. I don't know why it bothered me so much. It was horrible of course, but after all - it was clear across the country. Not local news that needed to be told where I was.

It bothered me so much, I went and told my managing editor what I had seen. And of course, her response was, "that's in New York, it doesn't affect us here".

And still, it bothered me. Something felt different. Something felt really, really bad. I glanced up again. And there it was. This time they were talking about a second plane that had struck the other tower. I hurried in to her office once again and told her what had happened. I won't forget the look of shock on her face as she realized this wasn't "just an airplane crash".

Everyone in the newsroom stopped what they were doing and gathered around the television. We were all quiet. Some stood with their hand over their mouth and all had a look of shock, fear and wonder of what was to come next.

Then the third plane crashed in a field.

My first thought when realization hit that America was under attack, was for my children. Two of them were in school in our rural community, but the third, she was attending school in Oklahoma City where she had been accepted to the Oklahoma School of Science and Math.

Although I knew the younger two were most likely okay, I worried. In particular, I worried about my oldest. Was this attack going to continue on highly populated areas?

I wanted my children with me. I didn't like being away from them and needed to know they were all safe.

I tried calling my oldest.

When I finally got in touch with her, I breathed a little sigh of relief. I had also learned the other two were okay. But still, I didn't like the distance between us. What if this wasn't over.

For several days, I, like many across the country, had my eyes glued to the television for news of what had happened. News of whether or not there was more to fear.

I'll never forget the look on President George Bush's face when they interrupted him at a grade school to tell him what had transpired. The man kept his composure well, but it was obvious what he had been told was serious by the look on his face.

I am proud this country took action against those who did this awful act. Those who killed so many innocent people. We should never let acts of violence and evil such as this go unanswered.

I also don't believe anyone in this country will ever be the same again. I think a little bit of all of us was left in that day. We remember. We know where we were, what we were doing and how it made us feel. It was, as Alan Jackson has said, the day the world stopped turning.