September 17, 2001
Boulder Daily Camera
by Anthony Lane
Dodging a soapy sponge thrown by another student from Summit Middle School, eighth-grader Katie Markham said washing cars on Sunday afternoon was a way of helping return life to normal after Tuesday's terrorist attacks.
"Sitting around and watching TV isn't going to help," she said.
Markham, 13, and other Summit students said they hoped the donations received at Sunday's car wash will help the Red Cross assist people injured in the attacks.
While students, volunteers and donors continue finding ways to reach out to victims of the attacks — whether through car washes, blood donations or candlelight vigils — some are also trying to take a break from the news coverage and return to a state of normalcy. This week, most airports are open, trading on Wall Street is expected to resume, sports will pick up where they left off, and network programming will slowly return to normal.
Sunday's shopping crowd on the Pearl Street Mall was sizable, albeit somber.
"I think people need to be down here connecting with people, finding a sense of community," said Marilyn McVey of Boulder, as she passed a sparsely attended street performance.
But Boulder resident Jennifer Douglas-Larson said she does not think life will ever go back to normal.
"Things have changed," she said.
Tracy Wilson, a 13-year-old who helped organize Summit Middle School's car wash, said she was happy for the opportunity to make a difference.
Vehicles, many of them strikingly clean, lined up on the north side of Kmart's parking lot in Boulder to be washed by the students and a number of parents. Some drivers skipped the car wash and simply donated.
Holding a jar stuffed with bills and bearing the symbol of the Red Cross, parent Mary Kay Wilson estimated the donations would exceed $1,000.
"Most people are giving $20 a shot," she said.
Rich Dunlap waited about 20 minutes to have his pickup truck washed — its second cleaning in three days. He watched students scrubbing and rinsing the cars in front of him, then laughing as hoses were turned toward each other.
"I think it's a great release and a great way for them to feel involved," Dunlap said.
In Boulder, a group of kids ages 9 to 13 sold lemonade for just two hours in their neighborhood on Sunday and raised $189 for the Red Cross, said parent Deborah Scheffey.
Throughout Boulder County and Colorado, there was an evident effort this weekend by many to be involved or, at least, to connect with others.
Many people went to church Sunday to help cope with the week's events. Jeanie Frickey-Saito, 29, attended her first service in three years, joining others in prayer.
Randy Dilkes, manager of McGuckin Hardware, noted a subdued mood among residents as the store proceeded with its tent sale, an event Dilkes said is usually marked with a buoyant atmosphere.
He said foot traffic for the weekend's sale would probably be slower than usual, but he was adamant about the need for life to continue as usual.
"Businesses need to suck it up, to keep things going," Dilkes said.