email621.xml

email621.xml

born-digital

email

unknown

yes

2002-08-29

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the email - I passed it on. Am staying the weekend in Palo Alto
- flight to San Diego cancelled. I wasn't going to go anyway - don't feel like flying right now. I will try next Friday instead.
I called Mom to let her know and let her know I was fine. She is fine also.
I told her you were also ok and that I received email from you. That seemed
to make her feel better though I could tell she was pretty sad. I seem to
be feeling the same way - a profound sadness. Work just doesn't seem
important and it is hard to concentrate. Are you getting your travel plans
changed or do you still have to go next week? I know it is going to be safe
but the additional time wasted in the airport is not going to be fun. As
usual, the majority of the new things they are requiring seem to me to be a
complete waste and do not add anything to the safety. Whether you check
your bag at the curb or at the counter, if you don't scan it with the new
international scanners it doesn't help. Multiple checks of photo id's adds
nothing - do they really think that these people don't have id's. The
govn't is just trying to stop people's fears - the only thing that will make
it better is better and more scanning equipment, solid doors and locks on
the flight cabin and a policy that the flight crew will not come out for any
reason - even if passengers and crew are being killed - the flight crew
won't come out and they will land at the first available airport. The rest
of the stuff is just a pr effort to make the casual flyer feel safe. Sorry,
I just see me wasting so much more time in the airport and for nothing that
makes it safer to fly.

They have even required the sport fishing fleet in San Diego only allow
fishermen on board if they have a boarding pass and photo id and the crew
must search each tackle box and cooler brought on board. All boats
returning, are stopped at the harbor entrance at Pt. Loma and boarded and
searched by the Coast Guard. I know the Naval installations and fleet need
to be protected but I think that a "no enter" perimiter with armed gunboats
who will sink any boat entering the area not authorized would be a better
use of people's time and resources.

Anyway, I just needed to get some things out before I completely exploded.
Glad to know that you are all safe. Keep giving each other hugs - what we
all have is precious and together we will come through this. I am sooo glad
to have seen you all just before all this. Enjoy the gift of each day and
stay in touch when you can.

Love,
Mike

9/11/2001

Travel status