"Hold thou thy cross...."

The other day Justin had the Olympic opening ceremony playing back on his computer, having gotten some sort of password from his father which allowed him to view the sports via computer. I don't have to understand it, only report it. Anyway, he told me how the British paid respects to those lost in the subway bombings in 2005. NBC and who knows how many other networks represented in London cut away to other Olympic related programs instead of showing the tribute to those lost. 

Justin was able to view the tribute and its accompanying anthem sung by a beautifully-voiced woman singing "Abide with Me". As the hymn wafted down the hall from Justin's room to mine, I quieted what I was listening to in order to hear the hymn being sung. He told me it was coming and I am so glad he did. I don't know if she sang my favorite stanza or not, but I can sing it myself in my head, and often do. "Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heavens morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me..."

This made me think of the time when Justin, Martie, and I went to NYC to attend the Freedom Concert. The day we arrived we had planned to take the subway to China Town for, of all things, Chinese food. However, the news broke about the subway bombings that day and then the police rendezvoused outside our hotel, on Vesey Street, not far from the World Trade Center area. We sat outside the hotel in an open air restaurant and watched the activity of the police. More than once I walked up to someone with a clipboard and inquired as to what was going on. I was told it was a drill. 

At one point, we saw four identical capped pick-up trucks with matching trailers pull up, right in front of us. The guys got out and were wearing matching outfits, same color as their trucks. Pretty cool, but very strictly business. When they opened one truck we could see a 'machine' in the back of it and realized it was robot. Oh my goodness---the robots they use for finding and disarming bombs!

We had pretty much decided NOT to take the subway anywhere, and eat on the premises. We did not wish to miss anything and besides that, we were more than a little apprehensive about the whole situation. 

Twice that day the entire block was occupied by double rows of squad cars and other police vehicles. We would look out the window onto the street and see a wall of blue flashing lights from end to end. And that's how I remember the subway bombings in London----the reaction of NYC to their bombings. That was also a "Hold thou thy cross...." type of day.