Posted by Darth Dobbin at ct-naugatuck3a-111.wtrbct.adelphia.net on September 12, 2001 at 01:12:03:
e Mandel..
There are thousands who have been lost, and unthinkable numbers of injured, but the numbers are so big that it is hard to wrap my head around it.. One can only relate by way of one's onw emotions and ties to friends, and then try to extrapolate that feeling times thousands. But those thousands are made up of a collection of individuals, and each of those individuals must be mourned separately.
There are no words for this madness. I know that Kevin was friends with Dave Mandel, and spoke about how much fun he had collaberating with him. I feel like someone who "survived" a blast myself; my uncle who works in that part of the city was on vacation this week, my other uncle who works in the Pentagon was at a meeting off-site when THAT plane hit, and I have heard from most all of my friends in the city thus far. Not all, at this point, but most.
It is inevitable that this obscenity will touch most everyone around the Tri-state area; I don't know of ANYONE who does not have SOMEONE in their lives who works or lives in the area most severely affected, or someone who knows or is related to emergency workers. But to have a friend on one of those flights seems, in this nightmarish unreality, especially terrible.
It's tough to REALLY wrap your mind around sending out "hope" and "love" to so many people. The mind boggles at the scope of it. I seems easier to understand by way of individual stories of victims, and their individual loved ones and friends. I don't "know" Kevin, per se, but these years on the board, and as an avid reader/audience member/participant in View Askew related things, I feel a more tangible "connection" to what he must be feeling. Does that make sense? It brings the tragedy and loss a little bit in from the mass-concept, and it's attendant numbness, and makes the actual grief more palpable.
My thoughts and heart are with you for your loss. This is a waking nightmare, and cliche though it is, Hope is the one rope across the seeming chasm of despair and chaos.
Love to all, and my deepest sorrow.