Good to hear from you, Spaw, and I hope you do well next week, too.

I have been meaning to ask what Nigel asked--about 'Catters in CO, but usually when I think of it I'm not at my computer, and when I am at the computer I'm so tired my mind almost goes blank!. Thanks, Janie and Spaw, for news about folks in CO. I have been thinking mostly about Katlaughing's family there.

Gnu, thank you and all others around the world who helped people who were stranded during 9/11.

I was at work, teaching second graders that day. Anothe teacher came to my classroom door and asked me to come into the hallway for a minute. Then she told me what had happened. Throughout the morning I debated what I should tell my students and when. Right before lunch I knew they would be eating with children from other classes, and I had no idea what they had been told and what they would tell my children, so I told them briefly and matter-of-factly what had happened and reminded them that they were safe and if they wanted to see me during lunch and recess they could. None did. Throughout the day the classroom intercoms were filled with announcements for one child after another to come to the office for early dismissal as anxious parents took their children home. Not one parent came for any child in my class. I hope that was because they trusted me to care for their children. When I got home there were two messages on my answering machine: one from my son (already married and himself a dad), and one from my penpal-since-childhood friend in Lincolnshire, UK. While both figured I was safe, they wanted to make sure that I was okay emotionally, too.