A reader from Washington, DC, writes:

“I sympathize with your experience. The train to work this morning was only 3/4 full, very strange for Wednesday morning rush hour. A lot of gallows humor in the building, too. Talk like I hope it’s chem (it’s really windy today) or bio (cold, too) and not radiological. Speculation about potential blast sites and the length of time for a Stinger to acquire and home to target. Not your usual shop talk.”

I’m wondering if Americans elsewhere are equally anxious as those of us who live in cities targeted on 9/11. I know from various contacts in small towns in the heartland that people there are really worried for their own safety. I can’t figure this out.