So I went on a trip to the zoo today. Nothing out of the ordinary. But it gave me a chance to reflect on the little ways in which many of the ways we live life have changed since September 11th.
Every place now has a “disaster preparedness” plan–even for the most minor “event.”
Take, for example, the zoo. Upon arrival, my family and I were quickly escorted into the gift shop and were informed that we had to stay there because “an animal was loose.” Mind you, we hadn’t really even entered the zoo proper yet.
Quickly, speculation as to which animal escaped filled the locked-down gift shop: a lion? a tiger? a bear? oh my!
A few minutes later, the zoo-police gave the “all clear.” It seems that a bird had temporarily escaped. A bird. A bird. Locked down for a bird! Because, you see, I bet there was only one plan in the case of an escaped animals.
Such are the times in which we live.