[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: The past few days

[Angela Boyko]

Peg Kerr wrote:
> 
> Yes.  And you have no idea how much of a comfort it is to us in the U.S. to hear
> that, to know that as we struggle through the days, frightened and bewildered,
> we are not facing this . . . this MONSTROSITY alone, but the rest of the world
> is gathering with us so that we can face it together.

You are not alone. It could have happened in Canada. We were glad to do
what we could, to provide safe airports for everyone who got diverted.
And we will continue to what we can. We observed minutes of silence at
work yesterday. To not have done so would have been wrong.

I've been frustrated all week, because I'm just recovering from strep
throat and can not give blood again yet. The next time I give blood, it
will be my 15th donation, and the most meaningful yet. 

The first few times I gave blood, I used to motivate myself through the
ickiness of having a needle in my arm. I would motivate myself by
imagining someone who needed blood, like a newborn baby who needed an
operation, or perhaps someone like my grandmother. It got easier with
each donation, and now it's not icky at all. (this would be my not so
subtle way of saying, if you haven't given blood yet, please do) (it
also goes a lot faster if you drink lots of liquids starting 24 hours
before the donation)

I'm ashamed to say this now, but I used to get a little sick of the flag
waving on American TV. You know, the Wal-mart commercials extolling the
virtues of being American and all that. I didn't get why Americans felt
this need to declare their patriotic pride everywhere.

I get it now. This American pride you have, this is what is sustaining
you and giving you the strength to say, "We will get through this. They
didn't crush us. They didn't win". Good for you! Bring on the cheesy
Wal-mart commercials!

> I cried a little, a very little the first day, before I heard that my brother in
> Manhattan was safe.  I've cried a little over some of the newspaper reports.
> But I keep waiting for some huge wrenching cathartic sobs to come--god knows I
> feel enough grief to justify them--but even though I think they might help, and
> I WANT them to come, I just can't cry like that.  Still too numb.

I cracked Thursday night. A reporter was interviewing families who are
looking for their loved ones. She started crying and that's what got me
going. The anchor back at CNN talked with the reporter about what a
wonderful job she's doing in such a difficult time and even that made me
cry. I'm constantly saying prayers that the families will have an
answer, one way or another, about what happened to their loved ones.

Angela

-- 
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  "Every time I close the door on reality it comes in
      through the windows."  Jennifer Unlimited