Random dumb thoughts

This page is to put those little weirdnesses of life that don't really fit anywhere else, or aren't worth a page of their own

Friday, April 25, 2003

Okay, this blog is for Betster, because she asked. Sorry it's not cheerier.

Here's a thought on why we've got to keep going to stop terrorism. Today, I'm out and about at lunchtime -- I've picked up a manual for my new iMac, which will be arriving in the next few days, I've had a salad, I'm happy. I'm getting ready to go back to work, but I realize that I need to stop at the cash machine. As I leave the deli, I hear sirens, and I see the police starting to close down the road. I think "okay, motorcade -- this is the heart of DC, we've got lots of those. No big whoop." At first I think it must be W, given the number of police escorts and other vehicles. I start to giggle, because I'm thinking that the guy should really try being inconspicuous for a change -- it's probably safer that way. But then I look at this motorcade, and it's odd. There's a hearse, lots of limos, lots and lots of cars. So now it's looking like a funeral with an honor guard, and we're all standing around trying to figure out what bigwig died recently who merits a funeral of this magnitude. The cars and limos keep coming. I walk the two blocks to the bank, all the time with the motorcade going past, sirens blaring. I make it to the bank, go inside,wait behind a guy who's taking out money, I make my withdrawal and then head outside. This motorcade is STILL going past. Finally a woman tells me what's going on -- "there's a ceremony today for the relatives of those killed at the Pentagon on 11 September. These are the families going from one part of the ceremony to another. It was in the paper." This motorcade is still going on, and I still can't get across the street to get back to work, so I head two blocks in the other direction to pick up a cup of coffee. As I approach the coffee shop, I finally hear the sirens end, and I see the traffic start to move again.

This must have been a good ten minutes of cars going by. Now, this is for the relatives of about 200 people killed at the Pentagon. Imagine what the motorcade for the World Trade Center would look like. I don't ever want to see any more motorcades like this one. Ever. It was another one of those little things that hit home about what happened far more vividly than lots of the tv footage ever did. You may not see lots of news on the front page about hunting down these little weasels, but it's being done. It's going to take a while, but it needs doing and will be done. So there.

Happy Friday.

.: posted by Lily Friday, April 25, 2003

Comments by: YACCS