Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Management Mode

It is amazing how fast one can kick in to Management Mode. At 2:55 I received a call from Mike telling me to get to a computer and get the news -- FAST. I was in a friends office so I made her get to a news service and then realized that if everyone was hitting the various news agencies at once we might have problems. I then saw her radio and tuned to the news -- QUICK. My phone rang again with my Boss asking if I knew and suggesting that I get on the P.A. right quick before we dismissed.

I did so and then managed to reach Squidette on the forbidden cell phone telling her to get quickly to the West side of town with her friends and to call if she ran in to transportation problems. Then and only then did I manage to get to a computer to figure out if there were transportation problems. (There really weren't.)

I find it a bit sad that by 4:00 we were all relieved to hear that it was an accident. A sad accident but, only an accident. Six years ago I would have gotten on the P.A. with solid information regarding subway shut downs and traffic problems and no one would have thought twice about it. Transportation problems in NYC are not unusual. It used to be a common occurance to have an administrator get on the P.A. in the morning to announce the day's subway delays. No one thought twice about why the A, B or C trains were running slow -- they just were.

Today, however, we had to think about how to phrase what we were saying so as to avoid panic and hysteria. Actually, despite that fact that this was all happening at dismissal time, there were still over a hundred kids in the building at 4:15 particpating in various after school activities. Just saying ... When I suggested that their parents might want to know that they were o.k., they responded "we already did." Good kids!

My thoughts are with the families of Cory Lidle and the other person in the plane but, I have to admit, my thoughts are mostly with all of those here in the city who relived the panic of 5 years ago. I'm glad to be home right now. I think I'll go hug a Squid or three.

6 comments:

Susan said...

I was taking a tea break at work and clicked on Yahoo right after they posted. I have to admit that out of the bazillion people that live in NYC, my first thoughts were of my friend Linda and y'all. I know sorta what part she lives in but I was really wishing I had an idea of where you all were. It was a terrible accident but I'm so glad it wasn't something bigger. And glad y'all are ok and I'm sending hugs from OK for all the squids

Anonymous said...

I am so glad ya'll are alright and so well trained. ;^)

I saw it on cnn.com just before noon my time/three yours and figured you were all still safe at school.

I guess it's good that there really have been some lessons learned in the last few years.

*hugs*

Anonymous said...

I was thinking of you before we actually knew what had happened - and like you, I am terribly sad for the families left to mourn, but so very relieved for those of you who once again saw terror in the skies...

in other news, your Woven cardigan is beautiful! And congratulations on the cycling!

Ina said...

Hugs to you and all the Squids! There was a time yesterday - 10/11 - when management mode was necessary. But the arc of the afternoon was almost the mirror image of the morning of 9/11.

And thanks for the comment about red cabbage. Works with purple cauliflower, too.

Anonymous said...

You write with your heart, and the words on the screen can get misty.

Anonymous said...

I agree...poignantly said. As a New Yorker living in the Midwest, I saw the report on the television screen in a superior's office. I actually found myself in her office, staring at the screen in horror - while she was on the phone conducting business. I too was relieved that it was simply a horrendous accident. It's sad that our first thoughts have forever been altered.