Nothing like an unexpected explosion and a crater the size of a van a few blocks from your hotel to snap you out of a comfy state of denial.
I love taking PunditGirl to New York City. This week we were there to get our Beauty and the Beast fix. She really enjoyed the villian, Gaston.
“He was very ‘Gaston-y!’ ” she exclaimed.
It was a good day — hanging out with PunditGirl and spending time with my younger stepdaughter.
We were chilling over some wine for the grown-ups and lemonade for the PunditGirl when the phone rang — Mr. PunditMom was on the other end with an extremely worried tone.
We had no idea what had transpired just blocks from the hotel where we had stayed the night before and would be sleeping in again that night. We were relaxing and trying to decide where to go for dinner. We had toyed with the idea of eating near the hotel, but ultimately opted for lower in Manhattan.
Needless to say, it turned out to be a good choice.
Most days I forget how much denial we use to get through our lives these days, thinking that nothing like Wednesday’s explosion can touch our lives.
If we don’t consider it, it won’t happen, right? No car accidents, no diseases, no terrorists.
But without that sort of semi-delusional attitude, I know I would lose my mind. I can’t even begin to imagine how I would have handled it if PunditGirl and I had just been out strolling the streets as we had been just hours earlier.
Officials are saying that we shouldn’t worry about whether we were breathing any asbestos as a result of the explosion. No need to worry — supposedly. And of course, those helicopters that were constantly circling that mid-town location all day on Thursday wouldn’t suggest that possible terrorism is still on their minds, would it?
You don’t have to spend too much time reading the newspapers these days to have a healthy skepticism of what we’re told and what we should worry about.
I think I’ll go lay in my supply of bottled water and toilet paper later today — just in case.
On a different note, I have a few thoughts on true slacker dads over at PunditMom’s Spin Cycle!
July 20th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I was watching that billowing steam (smoke) on the the TV the onther night and wondering how many people in NYC were experiencing flashbacks and post traumatic stress. Crazy that you were there, and happy you are safe.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
That was totally crazy! The news went on to do a story about how bad the infrastructure is getting in the US and declining with age each year.
Science For Kids
July 21st, 2007 at 10:56 am
That was really scary when I saw the pictures online. I always get nervous when they immediately and adamantly say that terrorism had nothing to do with it. Often it doesn’t, but the authorities really don’t know that soon.
I’m glad thay you and your family are safe.
July 22nd, 2007 at 7:21 am
I am so glad you two are safe! That must have been terrible. It is scary and you are right that it is easy to forget until it hits so close to home.
I am so sorry you had to live through that scare during your trip. So sorry NYC was once again put into a state of turmoil and hardship. The world can be such a sad place all too often.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Whew. I’m so glad you weren’t near the blast.