Rebecca

Thanks for sharing your blog on the thoughts you had after 9/11. I was living here in Palo Alto at the time and as a Brit living in a foreign country that had just been attacked, I was struck by how similar my practical reactions were to yours.

As we awoke on that Tuesday morning, the world had changed and I felt so alone and far from my family and all that I considered "home". Technology was not the same as it is now and even contacting those at home in England was difficult - jammed phone lines and slow email as well as an 8 hour time difference added to the feeling of being stranded. I also wanted to buy things from home and find comfort in everyday things that were not easily available here. Endless cups of tea in china cups and saucers is something we English do very well in times of trouble!

Thank you for reminding me how I felt back then. I must admit, I had almost forgotten.

Rebecca,

Very nice column. Heartfelt.

I was here is Palo Alto, and I did not feel isolated. I felt emboldened. I wanted GWB to attack our attackers. He did. That made me feel very good. I will always be thankful to GWB.

Thank you for your comments. Looking back at my column certainly brought back memories for me as well. Brit, that's a good point about the time difference. It definitely added to the "stranded" feeling. I had a nine-hour time difference from home and remember it well. Cups of tea were warming and comforting for us, too!