Anniversaries

Anniversaries are an interesting thing. We mark them in order to remember things that have happened, happy or sad. I woke up this morning, thinking that in the back of my mind, I'd take the short walk to "ground zero" to see what was going on. But when I turned the television on, I saw the media circus that had begun hours before.

When I got out of the subway the other night, the NYPD had already put down barricades. There were more people than usual looking at the memorial wall that surrounds the church. After I crossed Broadway, police in various types of vehicles were headed south honking their horns and ringing their sirens. I took another glance toward the site and saw the American flag hanging on a building west of where the towers stood. It was all overwhelming.

Prez Bush's arrival around 5:30 EST wasn't even enough to make me want to go down there. I stayed inside all day and read. Well, sort of. I started reading about young Werther and his sorrows. He has just met the love of his life, the very love that will drive him to suicide. I e-mailed my sociology professor and gave her topics that I'd be interested in writing my 30-page essay about. They are: 1) the racial implications of minstrelsy in the 19th century. why did it exist and how did race/ism contribute to its popularity; and 2) the white race She responded within 10 minutes and, enthusiastically speaking about both topics, suggested we meet over coffee next Wednesday after her office hour. So that's that.

I went to the Village tonight to "read" with my roommate Niketa and her best friend Briana who is a film student at Sarah Lawrence. We found a cool all-night establishment that isn't really conducive to studying. But it's definitely worth a visit. On the way back to the train to go home, we were seranaded by a homeless rapper looking for money. They try hard here and at least it's entertaining. He walked to the side of me and gave us a little rap for about a block. I held on to my money. It's nearly 3 am so I'm going to sleep. I'm hoping my roommate will get off the phone here pretty soon. That would definitely make it easier for me to sleep.