Oklahoma City - Day 8

August 25, 2004

Torrential rain when we departed turns to light drizzle finally clearing for a star lit night.

0100 and a shattering sound from my side of the vehicle is all consuming. I am mesmerized by it almost as if in a trance. The sound grows louder and becomes disconcerting now. I shout at the driver to stop immediately. The other vehicles continue into the night unaware of our problem. We park on a hard shoulder and I descend the stairs out into the blustery night. The trucks pass by leaving a sonic boom, vehicle shaking and pitching at its effect. The large baggage door towards the front of the vehicle is missing, ripped with a fury from its hinges. It leaves an empty locker. We start walking back along the highway nearly a mile beaten back by the wind and dust. Finally giving in to the elements, we see the fruitlessness of our search.

'It was the largest Frisbee known to mankind,' I hear from one of the guys.

0700 and The Skyline theater stands on a street corner, its walls chipped and old. The vehicles are parked on the road and surrounded by endless orange traffic cones. I decide to visit the memorial with two crewmembers as introduction for our documentary. It is two minutes away by vehicle and is quite unique. Impeccable landscaping surrounds its black marble walls and shallow lake. To the right stands the field of chairs, in regimental rows. Nine rows each signify a floor with smaller chairs on the basement level representing the dear children who were innocently playing on the day. It causes grief to walk around this now silent place. Although early several visitors pass me quietly with visible tears in their eyes. I stand and stare unable to meet my interview tasks for a while. I take a walk long the south side of the still water and cannot hold my emotion. I last cried when my daughter was born and this is the second time. This is a haunting place, serene on the one hand but chilling on the other. I am engrossed by the thoughts of these poor children who had their lives snatched away from them. It's unfair and unreal. Nothing can prepare you for this place. Returning after our interview sequence I understand the events too well that hit this city like a whirlwind.

1130 and people are escorted into this marvelous building. Later Bradley appears from his liar downstairs visibly shaken by the interviews. Responses to the events of September 11 2001 are confused with the overwhelming memories of the 1995 bombing. This city is absorbed with that memory which shook their very roots. Yet they persevere and move on as best they can. They are forever marked however by this dreadful time.

1445 and feel a bit dejected by it all. Could be all sorts of different things, the weather or the breakfast or the day. Like all the other venues our hosts are unassuming and wonderful. They have opened their doors to us with a kindness that is overwhelming.