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Tuesday
11 September 20018 10 pm Amsterdam time [ horrible ]
The plan was to walk Matthew to the convention center. We made our way down to the lobby and in passing the bar he went in to talk to a co-worker. I waited respectfully outside, but eventually I began to wonder what was taking so long and I rounded to corner to find everyone transfixed on the tv. "Two planes were hijaked and crashed into the world trade center, and there was some attack on the pentagon."
I joined the stunned observers. We all watched in silence for a time, and then Matthew and I pulled ourselves away so he could go to work. I walked home alone, wanting to take picturesque photos, but unable to concentrate.
Hunger growled in my stomach and I made my way to the Leidseplein -- a square near our hotel.
It was a strange sight. Every person was discussing the tradgedy in their language of choice. Each restaurant and bar was broadcasting the events in Dutch or English. To be so far from home and have the events become so close...
I got two spring rolls. I was the only customer in the restaurant and upon hearing my English the waiter changed the broadcast from a local station in Dutch to CNN's broadcast in English. "This is terrible, yes?" "Yes." "You are from the USA?" "Yes."
I headed for the television in our hotel room, unable to stand the crowd in the bar. I watched the news alone for three hours. Two planes crashed into the twin towers of the world trade center. One plane crashed into the pentagon. One plane crashed in Pennsylvannia. Mention of a car bomb set off near city hall in Manhattan. I can't stand how the news is covering it. Who cares who is at fault. The focus now should be keeping as many people alive as possible. There will be time to place blame later. My heart goes out to everyone now. I try not to only pray for my friends and family in New York and my friends who were flying this week. I try to focus on each universe that was destroyed today. Words are useless...
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