Allyson Bird - Internship Diary

Oct. 18:

Last night at dinner at Thompson-Markward Hall there were pink printouts on every table. In boldface type were instructions on where to go in the event of an attack and a note that a silk scarf doubles as a gas mask. We were all instructed to check our beside drawers for flashlights.

As the election draws nearer, the terror paranoia here in Washington rises. U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minnesota, closed his Capitol Hill office on Oct. 12 to keep staff and visitors away from the Hill until after the election. He said Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, briefed lawmakers a top-secret intelligence report, though government officials said there was no new threat.

Yesterday The Washington Post released an article about an overworked police force in these sensitive weeks. I believe it.

Sunday, my boyfriend, Michael, and his best friend, Patryk, had stopped through Washington on their way back from fall break in Montreal. We were driving back from dinner and looped around the White House so Patryk, who had never been to the District, could get a picture.

The gear shift on Michael's car popped as we drove past the White House. We pulled over as soon as possible -- right in a U.S. Navy reserved spot that was actually from the day before.

There we were -- two of us just looking around, while the driver removed a large chunk of his car and began tinkering with whatever was underneath it -- a block from the White House in a military reserved space. Sure, we looked like car bombers. In less then a minute, a cop was flashing every color light he had and calling for backup. Then two cops flashing their lights proceeded to shine flashlights into the car and ask us questions like, "Have any of you ever been arrested?" while they ran a background check. We were detained for about half an hour.

But when all was said and done, they let us keep the parking space, asking but a small favor. "Just straighten out that parking job."

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