My first editorial regarding the events of 9/11/01 (JSB)

Last Monday and Tuesday were my first back to back days off of the road in a
long while, so, Mary and I headed out to our farm. We worked out there all
day, me, cutting grass, bushhogging and weedeating, and Mary, cleaning up the
house, doing laundry and looking after trees and plants. After a nice dinner
and evening together, we woke up to the WTC and Pentagon attacks with the
rest of America. We packed up after a while and quietly headed back home to
Hendersonville. Mary's sister, Diane looks after the house and cats whenever
we are away and she had left Mondays newspaper on the kitchen counter.
I looked over all of the things that were so important on Monday and
reflected how this act of unspeakable terror changed the world in just a few
hours.

We are all now in the process walking a strange tightrope in this nation
between our normal lives and this horrific event. We know that things have
changed forever, yet, as Americans, we look forward to visiting Grandma,
eating out, going to a movie, watching our favorite sports team win or lose
or go see a show! We ALL feel this way. The Oak Ridge Boys have had to sing
four shows in Branson this week and believe me, I would rather to have NOT
had to sing or say a word to anybody, however, we geared up and did it and I
was amazed at how many people were actually there to hear us, which makes my
point about folks wanting to return to normal.

There is a part of us that will never come back from this however, and I
think that this is also normal. We should always remember this act and all
of the many people who died and the families that were affected. Make no
mistake, we are war here. A different kind of war against a stealthy and
heartless enemy, but, it is war indeed. New York and Washington DC have been
bombed and I pray that this is the end, not the beginning of more death on
our precious soil. This was not "senseless" Violence as reported by some.
Our enemy is cold and calculating and every death was celebrated.

Like all of you, my Friends, I am in Prayer for our President and Congress
and Military Leaders that God will strengthen their resolve and wisdom and
show them the way as we tread upon a new and different battleground.

So here we are, trying to be normal, singing From The Heart and watching the
news while a piece of our hearts constantly cries for the loss of American
Lives.
Like Reverend Graham said yesterday, we need God more than ever right now.
Only HE, can help us to see the light in this darkened tunnel and I believe
that most of us realize this.

If I were twenty-five again, I would leave this group and join the armed
services in a heartbeat. It is frustrating being 53 years old right now. I
want a dog in this fight!

So, yesterdays news is not so important right now. But I'll tell you what is.
Faith in God and your precious Family. Hold on tight to both!
I will sing my songs again tonight. Then I am going back to my farm tomorrow
for a few days. I'll cut more grass, hug my wife, play with the grandkids and
call my Mother. Normalcy, except for the holes in Manhattan and DC and the
new WAR!

May God Bless America