Responding from New York City

[meboriqua at aol.com]

Hello Everyone!

It has been a terrible day here.  It was impossible for me to teach 
after I found out that the WTC had gone down and my students and I 
stayed glued to the radio until they were excused early.  I got a ride 
part of the way home, walked part of the way, took a cab a bit, and 
then walked the rest of the way (with a broken shoe), but I'm home 
safe and sound.  My family is also safe and sound - my sister and her 
husband just left our apartment a little while ago.

Just to let you all know how we New Yorkers are feeling - well, we are 
in shock.  The WTC is not only a symbol of the freedom that our 
country has, but it has been a major part of what makes NYC so great.  
I can't tell you how strange it is to see the footage of the beautiful 
NYC skyline and that the WTC is no longer there.  It is devastating 
and heartbreaking.  Thousands and thousands of people are in the 
streets, walking home from their midtown offices.  The city is pretty 
much shut down right now, and it very hard to get out and almost 
impossible to get into Manhattan unless one is on foot.

The footage of the WTC collapsing is jaw-dropping.  Some news stations 
are also sick enough to show people jumping from the WTC to their 
deaths - but I had to turn away from that.  NYC just won't be the same 
city from now on.  

The only nice thing about this is that complete strangers are helping 
one another - when we crossed over the Third Avenue bridge people were 
waiting with cold water to share.  A cab gave us a free ride for about 
20 blocks - wow.

Okay - I've said enough.  You all may not see me at the main site for 
a couple of days, but I am just fine here in NY.  Thank you all so 
much for being so caring and asking how we are doing here.  I love 
this site!

--jenny from ravenclaw and nyc ***************