September 11, 2007
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Yes, well . . .
Soooooooo I got into work later than planned today because the trains were running slowly in Jersey. The station was packed with people and I wasn’t sure why – usually trains run every five minutes and it’s never too crowded because everyone’s either getting on or off. Supplemental safety announcements were mumbled over the intercom, but nobody can ever understand them, so I kept listening to the Beach Boys and wishing my personal space bubble were a little bigger, as the guy next to me had ample opportunity to sniff my dirty sweatshirt sleeves. Sorry, dude. There were also more police officers than usual in the station and on the streets, which is understandable on a day like today.
It seemed, though, like nobody really knew why he or she was standing there. I know that the sheer number of authoritative types hovering can be intentionally intimidating and keep people from acting out, but I felt bad for most of the officers . . . it’s raining today (seems fitting – sunshine wouldn’t fit the mood) and nobody likes to stand on the street when it’s pouring.
But other than the police force out and about, it’s business as usual here in the city, from what I can tell. Of course, this is my first 9/11 in the city, but everybody is still going to work, drinking coffee, jaywalking . . . and that’s exactly what should be happening. No matter what your view on the whole political situation is right now, you have to admire the resilience of the country. I don’t mean buying “POWER OF PRIDE!” bumper stickers that are now in the clearance aisles of Wal-Mart or anything, but rather going back and doing what you used to before the the number came to mean a day that nobody’d forget.
And, for the record (because everyone asks,) I was in American Studies class (hi Sneds and Davis!) ten minutes into a video about the Salem witch trials. Being drowned for witchery seemed pretty trivial after they turned on CNN.
Last but not least – then il faut que j’écrive today’s news post – this is a picture that I took this weekend way downtown. I’d heard about how the site was lit up at night but hadn’t seen it until Friday night when my friend and I were walking nowhere in particular after dinner. Draw your own conclusions, but I think the photo speaks for itself.
Be extra patient with people today, tip your Starbucks barista and call your mom to tell her you love her. It’s that kind of day.
Comments (2)
nice to hear, even on 9/11, nyc is still moving as usual.
Thanks so much for your help. I just thought this was run by Internet ‘big brother’ mogules. So it’s cool to see a REAL PERSON helping other people do something they enjoy. Thanks. And cool 9/11 post. Nice.