Response to Tragedy

[lyorkus at yahoo.com]

I'm having some survivor guilt.  I was going to go to New York today 
for my voice lesson at Carnegie Hall, and of course I couldn't go.  I 
know other singers who have day jobs at the World Trade Center.  I 
already feel like I go to way too many funerals for friends who've 
died from AIDS.  I can't imagine how many people will be affected by 
this in the long run.

I recommended this on the cassie & Rhyssen list (hope you don't mind, 
Barb) and I'm recommending it here: go to Barb's fic on schnoogle and 
read the beginning of her chapter 26.  You don't have to know what's 
happening, just trust me.  It's Mad Eye Moody talking to a class 
about the aftermath of terrorism.  It's very wise and moving and made 
me cry to read it again.  The last bit of the scene is especially 
poignant.

I'm off right now.  I'm calling some of my atheist and agnostic 
friends to see if they want to go to Quaker meeting with me.  I need 
to go, but somehow, I don't want to go alone.  I've been praying and 
crying all day, so I feel just about prayed and cried out.  I hope 
the rest of the New Yorkers get a chance to check in soon and that no 
one has lost any loved ones.

--Laurin