Copied verbatim from Allyn (too fast, can't think):

• Both World Trade Center towers collapse after plane crashes
• Plane crashes into Pentagon, part of the Pentagon collapses
• Bush calls trade center crashes terrorist act
• White House, Capitol, United Nations evacuated
• FAA grounds all domestic flights, sends trans-Atlantic flights to Canada

My father called from Washington. He is safe. My mother, who was on a train to New York today, is safe. My sister, who lives in New York, is safe.

Now where do I begin?

I can't even cry. I am numb.

I pace back and forth between the television and the computer.

I want to do something to snap myself out of this daze, but what can I do? Lianna is going out to donate blood. I urge everyone to do the same, if possible. I cannot donate blood, which makes me feel more helpless. But if you can, please do.

(Note on why I can't donate blood: I tested positive for tuberculosis a couple of years back. Thankfully, I didn't develop the active form of the disease, and I was treated with INH (a TB-killer drug) which most likely destroyed the TB in my system. But the risk is still there, and the Red Cross doesn't want my blood.)

The unthinkable has happened. Now what?

I can't write about this yet. I want to, but I can't.

The flag at the Prudential Center is at half-staff. Such a simple gesture, such a devastating reason. I stood silently and watched it wave in the breeze for a few long minutes. Then I headed home.