It's Wednesday. What will today bring?

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

Answers

More of the same?

It's like it's not even real.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

I know. Life goes on here like nothing happened.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

And while it could be anything, it's scary nonetheless. "In the city of God there will be a great thunder, two brothers torn apart by chaos, while the fortress endures, the great leader will succumb...the third great war will begin when the big city is burning."
-Nostradamus 1654 I don't know that I'd call NYC "the city of God" but. . . but still.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

I woke up this morning and thought I'd had a bad dream. Then I looked over at the TV, which was right on CNN, where I'd left it last night. It wasn't a good feeling.

Here's a thing of weirdness: On Monday morning, Meredith looked up at the NY skyline, thought to herself, "Hmm...the color of the sky looks like something's been burning for a long time...", and went about her day. Then she woke up Tuesday morning to find her little prophecy was right on.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

I'm in Atlanta. I had flown to Tallahassee late Monday night, and left my hotel for the meeting at 8:20. We were in this basement room, and at 10:30, we took a break. I noticed that Chris had called me, which was odd, because he knew I was in a meeting. His voice mail message told me that he was sure I was aware that I knew what was going on, and not to get on the plane, and to call him and let him know if he needed to drive to Tallahassee to pick me up. I was like, the hell? I wasn't looking forward to the turboprop flight back to Atlanta, but I didn't think anything more of it. I called him and he told me what had happened. Seriously, the hell? I was shocked. I told my boss, who has known me for all of a week, and he thought I was kidding. Little by little, other people at the meeting began checking their voice mail and they got the same message.

Thankfully, we had rented a swank Volvo when we arrived the night before, so we Shanghaied the Volvo back to Atlanta. I called Hertz and said, "Yes, we're in the car and we're taking it to Atlanta. Thanks, bye."

Chris had talked to his mother - his father was stuck at his office in DC. His mother was running school as usual, but was very concerned that some of the parents - many of wost of whom work in the Pentagon - would be dead. Late last night, the last parent arrived to pick up their child from the school.

Mike, Joh told me that you saw the plane hit - my cousin Vicky was in that same traffic jam. She said it was unbelievable. That she smelled it immediately.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

My friend Brad was in NYC over the weekend with a new designer from Ireland, Daniel. On Sunday evening, as they were cabbing it to the airport they looked back at the skyline and Daniel asked Brad if he'd ever gone to the observation deck of the WTC. Daniel said it was amazing being that high and Brad said he'd never gone. "I'll go next time," he said. Next time.

Sara's high school boyfriend is a NY cop. He finally called her last night from the hospital. He'd been hit by debris, but he's all right. She said that call made it very real.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

It was unreal. It still is unreal.

H, that prophecy is freaky, but I wouldn't necessarily buy New York as The City of God.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

Me neither. Nor Bush as the "great leader." Gov. Pataki and Mayor Guiliani were incredible yesterday. Exactly what I'd want were they my Gov. and Mayor. God bless them.

But the sun comes up and I walk my dog and drive to work.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

I was very impressed with Guiliani.

I was less impressed with President Bush. His second speech of the day should have been more "this is what we're going to do" than patriotic rhetoric. I understand that Presidents do what they're told, but during a Tom Clancy crisis, we need more of a Jack Ryan type than the obvious blather. I mean, OF COURSE the government will do whatever it takes to find out who did this and retaliate. OF COURSE it was an attack on democracy. OF COURSE it's a tragedy. But how are we to proceed as a nation?

Every major network has an affiliate in Shreveport. He should have said something to the nation at that time. Cheney & company should have gone to ANWAR in Nebraska. Bush should have gone directly to the White House.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

What I mean is, he should have said something more compelling to the nation while he was in Shreveport, rather than a repeat of his earlier remarks in Sarasota.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

AB, what did you and Vince tell Mad?

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

Mike, are you familiar with Furman Bisher? He's a brilliant sportswriter - he's been with the AJC for more than 50 years. Here's the link to today's column:

http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/terrorism/nation/0912bisher.html

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

That's great.

He also had an excellent one last year when his son died.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

I figured you knew about Furman, Mike. Oh, I cried when I read the column about his son. All of his columns are inspired, actually. He is a gift.

Anyway. Glad you're safe. I can't see that they'll open National soon. Right now, I'm still planning on flying to Little Rock on Wednesday, and to Austin on Friday. My cousin Vicky is still planning on flying from National to Austin, but we'll see if she's able ot make it.

I hope, though, that everything goes as scheduled. I don't mind arriving at the airport three hours early at all, if that's what it takes for a safe flight.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

You mean Austin next Friday, the 21st right? I can't imagine anyone will be flying previously scheduled flights much before Sunday. I think it'll take days just to get everyone who's stranded back where they need to be and get those planes back where they need to be.

I just pray that this was an inside job bc if they got those knives on board through normal security, I don't see how they're going to fix that.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

As much as I'm not fan of Rob's, his entry was great. As was Jessamyn's.

http://www.darn-tootin.com

http://jessamyn.diary-x.com

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

I'm scheduled to be on five flights next week: a round trip between here and Little Rock, and a two-leg flight to Austin and a nonstop back to Atlanta. I see no reason why I shouldn't take those trips.

Chris is supposed to go to Philadelphia on Thursday for a deposiiton, but I have a feeling that trip will be cancelled.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

I see no reason why you shouldn't fly, but I'm not sure if you'll be able to. Hopefully by next week. Hopefully by this week.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001