Where were You ...

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September Day? is the title of a song that was written by Alan Jackson right after September 11th, 2001.

I was in the air on that September day. I was on the way to Chicago for a one day meeting, up in the morning and back that night. I landed in Chicago about 15 minutes before the first plane actually crashed into Tower # 1. I would usually rent a car when I got to Chicago and this day was no different, although I almost didn't rent one on this day. We had recently switched to National Rent-a-car and it was a lot bigger hassle than it had been when I was a member of the Hertz gold program. I had a coupon for a free limo ride from a limo service that messed up one of the reservations on my previous trip and since this was just a day trip I thought it would be a great time to use it. It would save me a lot of hassle and I wouldn't need a car since it was just up and back on the same day. Somehow that week I stayed so busy that I never took the time to call and make the reservation for the Limo so I had to take the rental that morning. I would really appreciate that later in the day. So on this morning after I landed uneventfully I proceeded to the National bus, got my car and headed for the check out line. Now I had traveled to Chicago enough that I knew where my favorite country station was at on the dial, 99.5 had a crazy DJ and sidekick that did the morning show. As I tuned in this morning they were talking about an act of terrorism, an act of war because a plane had crashed in to the World Trade center. They said you could see the burning tail sticking out of the building. I thought to myself, well I know you have a morning show that is "out there", but this is a little over the top. I had a picture in my mind of a little twin engine Cessna sticking out of one window in the tower. How could that be an act of terrorism or an act of war? I listened to the show as I was driving toward the toll booth just outside the airport and they continued to banter about what was going on as the traffic reporter came on. You could tell they were watching a monitor as they were discussing what was going on. The DJ introduced the Traffic and the traffic lady commented on what was going on and then she said..."Oh my God here comes another one." There was a long silence... She then said" Oh my God it just crashed into the other building." I can hardly even type this without the emotions of that moment really swelling up to the surface. I knew then the DJ maybe wasn't so crazy after all.

I rushed on to the Corporate Headquarters to find out what was going on. Upon arriving I went up to the conference room where our meeting was being held. There was a TV in the conference room adjoining and it was tuned to the news. There were real pictures of what I had been listening to . The image of the little twin engine Cessna was WAY wrong! I stood in the doorway mesmerized and shocked by what I was seeing on the TV. It was almost impossible to believe. I watched for a while and then thought I should go call Lee Ann and make sure she knew what was going on. I called, and when she answered I remember how happy she was that I had called. I knew I was safe but she had no idea. We talked a while and Lee Ann told me that my Mom & Dad had also called and wanted to know where I was and if I was OK. They knew I was traveling but didn't know where. I called them and they were also relieved. I remember at the time thinking how amazed I was that everyone was thinking about me. I knew I was OK so it didn't occur to me that every one else wouldn't think I was OK too.

There had been a crowd beginning to gather in the conference room to watch what was going on. Everyone was in shock at what we were witnessing on the TV. I remember when the first tower fell... oh my gosh I can't believe that just happened. If the first tower fell then the second tower was surely doomed because the plane hit it much lower and seemed to be a more direct hit, the tail of the plane wasn't left sticking out! I remember standing in the doorway and feeling my heart sink as I saw the second tower's antennae start to disappear into the smoke. After watching the news for a while we started the meeting we were supposed to be in. It was a meeting with some folks from France to review our strategies on Mergers & Acquisitions. We more or less went through the motions. The meeting was constantly interrupted by people trying to figure out what we should be doing, were all of our people safe, did we have anyone on any of the planes?, did we need hotel reservations? We knew that no one would be flying back home and most people were just in for the day of the meeting. We made the reservations, but they were canceled by the hotel later that day... it seemed that the people in the rooms couldn't go anywhere either so they weren't checking out. Oh and another thing... There were no rental cars available either. Good thing I didn't use my free limo ride. Later in the day I got a call from my secretary wanting to know if I was going to drive home. The travel agent who booked my ticket and rental car was also in Chicago for a one day meeting and she was looking for a ride home. Given all the events I had witnessed that day there was only one place I wanted to be and it was not in Chicago with a bunch of strangers, I wanted to be back home with my Family. So at around 3:oo we left Chicago in route to Nashville. The trip was mostly uneventful, but there was one remarkable sight. As we passed through Indianapolis on I-65 the airport was right off the Interstate. The runway was lined with planes, lots of planes. The radio broadcast we were listening to said they put 60 planes on the ground in less than 30 minutes. All the planes in the air that morning were ordered down as fast as they could get them down, and they would not go back up for several days afterwards. The other odd thing was the car rental lot, it was completely empty. We arrived back in Nashville around midnight. I dropped the rental off at the National counter where they told me I could not drop the car off there since I had rented it in Chicago. "I don't care what you do with, but I am leaving it here and I am going home" I said as I laid the keys on the counter and left to go home.

A long and harrowing day and I was glad to be home.

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September Day?

What do you make?

The most frequent question I get asked is,"What do you Make?" For a long time I told people "I specialized in making Sawdust. " This answer was made up because all too often what I made was a bunch of things that never seemed like they were really good projects to talk about. but I suppose over the years there have been a lot of projects that have remained and are now pieces that people really treasure, or at least I hope they do. So here goes with a list of projects, maybe not complete but this is what comes right to mind. In High School shop class I made a step stool, which my Mom & Dad still use in their den. I also made a shop mallet which still gets used today in our classroom at the store. I made a curio cabinet for Lee Ann which has been filled with Lladros, and a lot of collectibles from our travels over the years. I made a Cedar Chest of solid cedar for my oldest daughter, Courtney and cedar lined raised panel oak chests for my youngest daughter Susan and her cousin Ashley as graduation presents. Aaron and I always made his projects together. The best one was a drafting table from Wood Magazine. I have turned numerous projects over the years; peppermills, salt shakers, rolling pins, bowls, platters, lidded boxes and a turning was the centerpiece of a Music Stand I built for Susan. I will continue to update you on the list of projects... both past and future. I will build a photo album for you to enjoy and even try to work on some videos.

Woodworking has been a hobby of mine every since I was a young boy. I made my first project in the Cub Scouts in the 3rd grade. It was a white bunny memo holder that I made for my Mom. Ever since I have always enjoyed woodworking. I have spent a lifetime making things, Fixing things, refinishing things and of course every woodworkers favorite pastime buying tools and collecting wood.



I married my High School sweetheart, Lee Ann, and we had 3 wonderful children. The girls always enjoyed the things I created in the shop, but never got bitten by the woodworking bug. Aaron started coming into the workshop with me almost as soon as he could walk, probably because I wanted him to enjoy woodworking just like dad. I hear a lot of stories about other dads whose sons didn't share their passion for woodworking, however Aaron and I have enjoyed many years of working together in the shop. His first project was a miniature table and chairs he built for Lee Ann. He would draw out the parts he wanted me to cut, I would cut them and he glued them together. It was really a remarkable project for such a young mind. The table and chairs would not have won any design or workmanship contest, but that was not the point. This was something that Aaron created, largely on his own. It was his start in woodworking. The woodworking shop was also a sanctuary. It became a place where we could go and talk about anything. When Magic Johnson was diagnosed with HIV, Aaron asked what was HIV and how do you get it? A pretty deep question for an Eight year old, but off to the work shop where we talked about AIDS, the birds and the bees in a safe and comfortable environment.



Today we still enjoy woodworking, so much so it has become our livelihood. We own and operate the Nashville Woodcraft store. It is a family business that we all enjoy. Well, maybe Lee Ann doesn't enjoy it as much as Aaron and I, but she is right there supporting what we are doing and is very involved in helping to keep the store running on a day in and day out basis. We are all around woodworkers and tools all day long. It is a great place to work and interact with each other on a daily basis.