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Thank you all for your inquiries. I'm just fine, but did get a taste of excitement I could just as well have done without this miserable day.

This morning, I got in my car at 9:35 headed for Saint John's Church Lafayette Square -- the President's church, directly across from the White House. Ten or fifteen minutes later, as I merged onto I-66 toward the District, traffic became terrifically bogged down. I turned on the radio and was told that the World Trade Center had been attacked by a jet aircraft that had only just flown into it. Having enough difficulty internalizing that concept, I noticed an enormous billow of smoke a few miles distant. The radio then informed me that the USA Today building had had a bomb go off. As we now know, that information wasn't correct. I was watching the Pentagon burn, something that became clear moments later when the correct information arrived over the AP wire and was shared. I got on my cell phone and called [my friend] Gail at work. Knowing that she often leaves for work (at the Department of Human Services) late, I was hoping not to find her in -- that she'd stayed home. The call wouldn't go through

.

I looked at the traffic jam ahead of me as they reported that the White House, too, had been hit. That was just plenty for me. The exit I'd reached was my old Arlington one. I decided to get off the highway and go to Gail's house, only a couple of miles away. Her housemate, Michelle, met me as I got out of the car. She told me Gail had just called, and, although in her car bound for work, hadn't crossed the bridge into DC yet. We assumed she'd turn around and be right home.

I then called Potomac [School] and couldn't get through. Briefly I considered going in to work (as I wasn't gonna make it to any 10:30 service across from the White House, that much was clear), but considered the fact that the school is directly opposite the CIA. It didn't seem too much of a stretch to imagine that that might be a target on the list of these madmen, so I stayed put and watched things unfold on TV at Gail's.

Being the ridiculously dutiful person she is, Gail didn't turn around. She went on in to work. As Acting Director of her division today, she didn't feel she could do otherwise. By 10:30, she was on the phone telling us that they were calling a meeting to decide whether or not they should all leave. Minutes later, the Federal government closed officially, and Gail called to say that there was no hope for her to drive home. The streets were at a stand still. We got out a map and gave her instructions on how to walk the seven or eight miles into Virginia. Told her in no uncertain terms NOT to take the subway. That, too, seemed a reasonable target.

I left (the traffic was extraordinary, not even at rush hour is it ever like this). The radio had advised me to stop at the bank and get cash, which seemed a reasonable precaution -- only a hand-written note declared an impromptu bank holiday. Fortunately, the ATM was generous, and an hour later, I made it home. Gail called at 12:30 to say she'd done the same. Via the subway.

Why is it nobody listens to me? :-)

Anyway, there's some unease here about the future. Helicopters buzz incessantly overhead. I finally contacted school and was told by our academic dean that it's unlikely we'll be open tomorrow. Many of our kids are state department and military children. God knows if any of their parents is involved in the Pentagon scenario. Worse than that, nobody feels secure that it's over. Virginia's governor has declared a state of emergency. We're not even supposed to go out on the streets.

So there you have it. The dogs and I are comfortable, and one of us is incredulous. I know it's been said for eons... but I really have to ask: What have we come to? :-(

Katherine