London

[fabrisse]

jerminating did the right thing when he woke me with the news.

I'm not there. I haven't lived there in nearly two decades, and my parents haven't lived there in eight years. But all that keeps running through my mind is that my home has been bombed again.

Several US reporters have remarked that everyone was orderly, that there seemed to be no panic. Of course there isn't. This is London. London who, during World War II, adapted a wildflower that loved to take over bomb sites as London Pride. The year that I had so many close calls (1981-82) theater and concert attendance went UP after the first bombing. Londoners cope.

This is not the time for my feelings of helplessness. I keep feeling like I should have been there. One of the bombs went off very near (under) the British Library. My mother used to buy my underwear at the Marks and Spencers they keep showing on TV near Edgware Road. The other tube bomb was in The City near the financial centers. The husband of a friend of mine could very easily be one of the commuters affected by it.

It doesn't matter who did it. This is appalling whoever claims credit or is proved to have done it, and I know from past experience that the former and the latter often have nothing in common. Londoners cope. People who wouldn't give each other the time of day yesterday, will nod when they see each other tomorrow.

The Guardian currently says that 1000 people have been wounded. The death toll is at least 40.

I hope that all my London friends get in touch with me. If you're on my friends list, and I didn't know you were a Londoner, please let me know that you're OK.

Comments

Home abroad

[gileswench.livejournal.com]

While I've never lived there, London is the home of my heart. I'm waiting to hear from some people I know from Yahoogroups and such. Others I know I'll never hear from because I never knew their names. I keep thinking about people I saw in passing on a brief trip years ago. I keep wishing I had a way to know they're safe.

There aren't enough tears.

At least the first solid news I heard after the first shock this morning was my friend Brian's parents, who are in London visiting Brian's brother who lives there, were nowhere near any of the danger zones. John, the brother, and his girlfriend Zoe were also safe, thank goodness.

I'll keep a good thought for your friends tonight, Twistie. You're right. London will endure. Londoners will carry on. But we'll take tonight to mourn first.