My apologies for this late post. This is my first “writing day” or, if you like, my first goofing off day in my new schedule. And you’ll see why I’m posting late when I tell you what I did today–meeting with friends and going to an art museum
As you all know, it’s the anniversary of 9/11 and at first it almost seemed wrong to have such a hedonistic day. I find myself looking for omens on the anniversary: is the weather similar? No, today was warm and cloudy. 2001 was a perfect fall day, crisp and cool, with more orange and yellow in the trees, and the season more advanced. When I heard the first announcement on NPR at about 8:48 am I was just turning into the parking lot at work (and I can’t remember why I decided to drive into work that day, but I was glad I did, because I wouldn’t have been able to get home). I was driving at that time today, too. I was listening to the radio with some degree of anxiety.
But also with some degree of anticipation because I was about to meet up with my friend Christie Kelley, who gave me one of her brand new cover flats (we laughed about the chandelier with light bulbs and the hero’s huge phallic thumb). We talked about what we were writing or not writing and a whole lot of other things.
Then this afternoon I went into Washington DC to meet Celia May Hart and talked about–yes, what we were writing or not writing and a whole lot of other things. We met up at the National Portrait Gallery and looked at some pix of men with beards (e.g., Walt Whitman) as well as a special exhibit on Katherine Hepburn.
And then home to blog and to continue the slum clearance and renovation of what will eventually become my office.
Altogether, a good day, and a good day to celebrate friendship and community.
What a wonderful post Janet. I was remembering yesterday that on 9/11, it was a beautiful sunny day with not a cloud in the sky, I wore my prettiest dress because it was my first time planning our annual wine & cheese reception that night. Still I had a funny feeling that morning, but I put off to nerves that no one was going to show up that night for the event.
Last night, I went to Central Park to check out the returns line for Hair with a friend. It was too long so we shuffled off to a lovely wine bar and drank flights of sparkling wine and talked about life.
I put flags out in our yard and tried not to think of it too much or I’d cry.
Then I watched a documentary about the health problems of the first responders and the men and women who worked tirelessly at Ground Zero, and how the system basically gives them the shaft, how the EPA chief said everything was safe and therefore no one wore the optional and ineffective protective gear. Appalling! Appalling!
I saw a great documentary on PBS about the retrieval of personal items by Smithsonian curators from the vast amount of rubble from the twin towers. Here’s more info on Objects and Memory.
They had a moment of silence at Wal-Mart yesterday at 8:46 AM. I love living in a small town. All the flags were at half-mast. I remember the day it happened I was off work and was working in my yard. My neighbor called to me and said “Have you seen the news this morning?” I was glued to the television for hours. It was awful. I had all sorts of calls from my overseas friends because they don’t have a concept of how large this country is.
I can’t believe they aren’t doing everything they can to help those first responders. It is a crying shame!