Happenstance

I don’t know what’s going on in cities in Afghanistan right now. I know that the U.S. and Britain attacked today. I know what happened in New York when we were attacked on September 11. I cannot wish that on anyone. My heart goes out to any who have been injured and to the families and friends of anyone killed. I hope there are none in either category on any side.

I am told that we are dropping some food there, too. That’s nice, but it’s hard to imagine someone rushing to open a package that dropped from the sky when other things dropping from the sky are exploding. Yesterday, it was reported that the food packages come with notes saying they are being provided by the United States. The notes, according to the reports, are in English.

Our mayor made an announcement soon after today’s attacks began. He said New Yorkers should go on about their lives. He said tomorrow’s Columbus Day parade would go on as usual. That’s hard to imagine. The usual police and fire department contingents are to be replaced by a single police emergency vehicle and a single fire truck. I cannot imagine cheering any marching bands tomorrow.

This morning was the last mayoral primary run-off debate. It was better than the last one, although the format was strange. It seemed to be one of those cases of using technology for technology’s sake. Questions came in live from reporters stationed all around the city.

Both candidates unhesitatingly stated they would support the other if he won. So, on that level, at least, it appears opponents CAN get along. The election is on Thursday, exactly one month after the attacks. The candidate who’d agreed to Mayor Giuliani’s plan to extend his term said that wouldn’t happen now.

One of the candidates lost many friends in the World Trade Center disaster; the other lost none. Neither candidate has made an issue of this, but, based on statements, it seems to be weighing heavily on the loss-free candidate’s mind — another form of survivor guilt, I guess.

It seems that some people actually feel bad about not having had a personal loss from the attack. People, in general, cannot seem to fathom the random nature of what occurred.

There was a story in the New York Times about a woman and two firefighters who escaped the World Trade Center alive. The firefighters were urging the woman to hurry, but she wasn’t moving as quickly as they wanted her to. They urged her on; she slowed them down. And it was just that serendipitous combination that saved all three lives. They ended up in a section of the structure that remained standing as all around them collapsed. If they’d moved either faster or slower, they would all have been killed.

We heard today from a friend in rural Canada. He was connected to two among the missing, one who had an 8:30 am business meeting on a short trip to New York and another who was a tourist.

The New-York Historical Society (they still use the hyphen) is collecting artifacts from the memorials around the city. Someone has been placing this near the other posters: “Missing — Twin Towers, Age 28.”

TTFN, Mark