Just a note to those who have emailed and called...Things here in DC are ok. Although throughout DC now there line National Guard HumV's and military officials at most major intersections and bridges...Georgetown is utterly silent and has been all day and night, it is surreal. I can see the Pentagon from my front yard and plumes of smoke continue to surround that area of Virginia even now 2:30AM (I just took a walk down to the waterfront to see). I have been busy helping a visiting group of friends stranded, who obviously have no ability to travel and had to extend stays... (hotels are jammed), rent cars (literally one of the girls sister's got the last rental car of Ohio to drive down here). Went to give blood and stood in a looooong line of folks many of which decided to give later. It took about 3 hours to give, they say they still need O+ (which I have, so I stayed). I am stunned!!!... and in all the ancillary chaos here I have to pause every few seconds shudder and glance up at CNN to see the events unfolding in NY and DC and think of all the injured, missing, and dead and I still can not believe I am seeing this. It is eerily silent here also...no air traffic but the occasional sound of a copter or military jet. I have grown so used to the regular 30 second pauses between planes landing at National Airport that it sounds like all the insects suddenly STOPPED and went eerily silent during a camping trip in the middle of the deep dark woods. We are a Nation that comes together in the face of adversity. It is so unfortunate that it takes acts like this to unify us...but I believe they have (re)-awakened the sleeping GIANT! -Peace, Dave
Nave, I have a good friend that just moved there last week. What a home coming! This is a horrible time for all Americans. I am glad that you are well. People were asking for you today.....
Nave, It's quite possible that things will never return to what was previously normal. For example, you mention the airplanes. I can't see air traffic ever returning to its previous level, because effective security, which is sorely needed, would raise the costs. It may be harder to recruit crews in the future, and passengers who can no longer take safety for granted may fly less often. Fuel costs could be going up as well. Then again, people may forget what happened and pretend everything's still just fine. If they do, then we're in serious trouble, because this is one sleeping giant that needs to wake up soon or it may never wake up again. Glad to hear that you and others in DC are safe after what happened. RichGuy
I live in MD. It is unusually quite. We had helicopters and F-15s flying overhead yesterday. People were coming out of their houses to see what it was. If we are not personally affected by this (we all will be in some way--increased security, etc.), we will know somone who loses a loved one. Right now, I cannot get through to a classmate who worked for the SEC in 7 WTC. I feel pretty certain that he was not in the building because it was evacuated, but he is the type of person who would go into the other building to help... My prayers are with everyone--things will never be the same. What we have seen in the Middle East has now appeared on our doorstep. God Bless you all. Cariba
NAVE.....finally.....you had us....ME worried. I'm glad you're okay. Wheww! I'm still kind of numb this morning. I don't things will ever be the same.
dave, i went to dc for the first time in '98 at this time on a business trip, my how time flies.. i recall the empowerment of emotions through all my fiber of how patriotic and nationalistic i felt. i took a tour, and we arrived at the steps of the capitol just minutes before one branch of the service's band was playing the song america the beautiful. you get these feelings often?
