Shock turned to grief and anger in the United States following the series of terrorist attacks Tuesday morning that destroyed four hijacked commercial airplanes, the 110-story twin towers of New York's World Trade Center and collapsed part of the Pentagon. Officials said it was too early to assess the death toll from the attacks.

President Bush put the U.S. military on "high alert status" and said that he had taken security precautions to ensure the functioning of the government. The Federal Aviation Administration shut down airports around the country.

U.S. intelligence officials told CNN, "There are good indications that persons linked to Osama bin Laden may be responsible for these attacks."

Afghanistan, believed to be the home of bin Laden, denied he was connected to the attacks.

I'm afraid to go to sleep.

Afraid that I'll wake up tomorrow and find out that it's not over - that something far, far worse will have happened to our country while I am selfishly snuggled in my bed.

Just because the FAA has grounded all flights doesn't mean that these vicious but clever people don't have other tricks up their collective sleeves. Perhaps their success today will inspire them to more heinous, frenzied acts.

(Although, judging by the rumors of a sudden and drastic surge in gas prices, I suspect the next acts of "terrorism" will come from within our own country, fueled by greed and panic over the events which transpired today.)

Military jets keep flying overhead, both a reassuring presence and a sobering reminder that none of us is truly safe - even those of us far away from New York and Washington.

I'm not only afraid, I'm embarrassed. Four planes, hijacked simultaneously? They actually managed to fly one of them into the goddamn Pentagon? If the Pentagon is at risk, what kind of security does this nation truly have? How in God's name does a plane even get that close to the Pentagon without being shot down, commercial jet or not? Who the fuck was asleep at their post?

I'm saddened at the thought of the terror that so many people had to experience today. Saddened by people in other countries who celebrated at the news of America's tragedy. Saddened by visions of people leaping to one certain death in an effort to avoid another.

I'm stunned that there are people who hate Americans so much that they would sacrifice their lives to see us stumble.

I'm ashamed - because even though I am still alive, and those I love are still alive, and I've lost no one dear to me as so many, many people have today - I feel an incredible need to not be alone tonight, to feel safe and loved and reassured, to have someone hold me until I fall asleep.

I know I should be grateful for what I have and not focus only on what I don't have. But I'm shocked and I'm scared - and I don't know how to deal with it.

I think it will be a long time before I feel safe again.

I suspect in that regard, I am not alone after all.