GOOD MORNING ALL

     We each in our own way have begun to come to some kind of terms with what happened last week.  I hope you have been able to restore your spirits among family and friends.  I am trying to focus on the extraordinary number of people who escaped the terrorist attack, rather than on the heartbreaking stories the news continues to bring us.  I am reminded how good this life is, and how lucky we are to have it, in spite of the new fear that has entered our reality.  

     We New Yorkers are all still looking over our shoulders, trying to get on with life but knowing things will likely never be the same here.  Yesterday, the sour smoke from downtown was drifting north, and I could smell it distinctly all day at work, even with all the windows closed.  When I left work after dark last night, a fog had rolled in, so you couldn't tell what was smoke and what was fog.   I took my usual route home, up Hudson Street, and I'd gone about a block when I suddenly realized that I couldn't see the Empire State Building--just a thick billowing mass of gray.  The events of last week made this somehow unsurprising.  It could have toppled, for all I knew, and it really scared me that I wasn't particularly shocked by the possibility.  Another block of walking and the building emerged from the fog enough to let me see that all was well--the red, white, and blue lights were still shining.  

     A guy I used to work with now works in the Empire State Building and he told me yesterday that it takes him an hour and a half to get into the building.  He stands in a huge, long line while everyone walks through the metal detector, has their bags checked, and their ID's scrutinized.  But he's grateful for the hassle--as are we all.  

     Pete and I are pretty nervous about traveling right now but we've been planning our trip to Italy (with my parents) for over a year.  The State Dept. is not telling people not to fly, and security is at an all-time high, so...we're going.  We leave today at 4pm (a NOON check-in is required) and will be back on Sunday, October 7.  We'll let you know when we are safely home again. 

     The coming weeks will undoubtedly be nerve-racking no matter where one is, but we're sure hoping Bush makes some really good decisions.  If given permission in a situation like this, people are indeed powerful as a group, and the captain was wise to empower his passengers in case of an emergency.  If only a similar announcement had been made last Tuesday.  With love and best wishes, 

Meredith

The following is a forward taken from a letter by a traveler 
about her return flight to D.C. this week.

     "I just wanted to drop you all a note and let you know that I arrived safe and sound into Dulles Airport tonight [9/15] at about 6:00.  It was an interesting flight.  The airport in Denver was almost spooky, it was so empty and quiet.  No one was in line for the security check point when I got there so that went fairly quickly, just x-ray of my bags and then a chemical test to be sure nothing explosive was on them.

     Then I waited 2 1/2 hours to board the plane.  What happened after we boarded was interesting and thought I would share it with you.  The pilot/captain came on the loudspeaker after the doors were closed.  His speech went like this:
     
     'First, I want to thank you for being brave enough to fly today.  The doors are now closed and we 
     have no help from the outside for any problems that might occur inside this plane.  As you could 
     tell when you checked in, the government has made some changes to increase security in the 
     airports.  
     
     They have not, however, made any rules about what happens after those doors close.  Until they 
     do that, we have made our own rules and I  want to share them with you.  Once those doors close, 
     we only have each other.  The security has taken care of a threat like guns with all of the increased 
     scanning, etc.  Then we have the supposed bomb.  If you have a bomb, there is no need to tell me 
     about it, or anyone else on this plane; you are already in control.  So, for this flight, there are no 
     bombs that exist on this plane.  
  
     Now, the threats that are left are things like plastics, wood,  knives, and other weapons that can 
     be made or things like that which can be used as weapons.  Here is our plan and our rules.  If 
     someone or several people stand up and say they are hijacking this plane, I want you all to stand 
     up together.  Then take whatever you have available to you and throw it at them.  Throw it at 
     their faces and heads so they will have to raise their hands to protect themselves.  

     The very best protection you have against knives are the pillows and blankets.  Whoever is close 
     to these people should then try to get a blanket over their head--then they won't be able to see.  
     Once that is done, get them down and keep them there.  Do not let them up.  I will then land the 
     plane at the closest place and we WILL take care of them.  After all, there are usually only a few 
     of them and we are 200+ strong!  We will not allow them to take over this plane.  I find it 
     interesting that the U.S. Constitution begins with the words 'We, the people' - that's who we are, 
     THE people and we will not be defeated.'

     With that, the passengers on the plane all began to applaud, people had tears in their eyes, and we began the trip toward the runway.  The flight attendant then began the safety speech.  One of the things  she said is that we are all so busy and live our lives at such a fast pace.  She asked that everyone turn to their neighbors on either side and introduce themselves, tell each other something about your families and children, show pictures, whatever.  She said 'for today, we consider you family.  We will treat you as such and ask that you do the same with us.'

     Throughout the flight we learned that for the crew, this was their first flight since Tuesday's tragedies.  It was a day that everyone leaned on each other and together everyone was stronger than any one person alone.

     It was quite an experience.  You can imagine the feeling when that plane touched down at Dulles  and we heard, 'Welcome to Washington Dulles Airport, where the local time is 5:40'.  Again, the cabin was filled with applause.  

     Last night I saw a program with college students where one of them said that at their campus there are no more hyphenated titles, i.e., African-American, etc., everyone is just an American.  No one will ever be able to take that pride away from us. "

(Article supplied courtesy of tan anonymous internet source)