email388.xml

email388.xml

born-digital

email

unknown

yes

2002-08-19

Well, I sit here feeling drained after spending a day in London surrounded by a people who share in our grief. At 11 am, a three-minute moment of silence was observed all across Europe. The parking meter maid man outside my window stood, hands clasped and head bowed, the traffic stopped, and all was truly quiet. Then, on the news, I watched the memorial service at St. Pauls Cathedral where the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the entire congregation sang the Star Spangled Banner. Hearing these Brits sing this song will forever be etched in my heart and memory. Even my landlord, a Frenchman, hand-wrote Jeff and me a long letter of sympathy for the horror that Americans are experiencing and expressing his support. I feel the unspoken strength of spirit being offered to us everywhere I go. You are probably hearing about this in America, but I wanted to share with you that it is very real. We are not alone. It is heartening.

I sit glued to the television set, tuned alternatively to CNN or the BBC, watching for glimmers of hope in a pile of rubble. It is good to see President Bush out and about. It is important to me and every American over here that Ive come to know that we see him.

I know tonight that many of you put out your candles and you are hanging your flags. I wish we could too. I want so much to hang a banner screaming, Yeah, Baby, Were Still Standing! Who knows, perhaps I shall. But we are a nation at war, and Im in a foreign country it is frustrating to be suspended like this.

My thoughts are with you all.

God Bless America.

xo Sarah

September 14, 2001

And so, how are you?