X Letter from America

Dear All

I am in a place called Ashland in Oregan USA. A leafy, mountain forted,
humdinger of a town that is on its knees as from this early Tuesday
morning.

It is one of the most shocking, saddest days I have ever known.
Everyone is walking around like ghosts with hanging heads.

Jane (my partner) and i are due to fly back to London on Saturday, but
because to this terror we do not know when we will be home.

The house of Congress just sang 'God Bless America' on CNN. All of us
in this house just broke down and cried.

Our very good frien Paula (who we are staying with) has been recieving
phone calls and speedily written e-mails all day from friends in New
York. They are ok.

It is so strange. As an English couple abroad we feel alien. As if this
is a private grief. I suppose it is. We feel oblique.

This great nation (and it is great) has had its guts pulled out and is
there for all to see. It is going to take months, maybe years to
recover from this. No one knows what to do. Its numbing.

Up until today we have been having one of the greatest times of our
lives. A time filled with genuine love, laughter and adventures. The
weather has been beautiful. Sunshine and hummingbirds.

There is a light rain falling on the mountains around us now.

Ralph