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CNN Live Saturday
Life in Washington, D.C. Area Gets Back to Normal
Aired October 26, 2002 - 13:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: One sure sign life is now returning to normal following the capture of the two sniper suspects, children are once again taking to outdoor sport fields in Maryland without fearing for their lives. CNN's David Mattingly joins us now from Boyds, Maryland, with more on the relief that is being felt around the D.C. area. I can only imagine, David.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Heidi. We're paying very close attention to the little things today, those signs that life is getting back to normal here in the Washington suburbs. One of those signs going on right behind. This is a youth soccer league that's in action. We're between games right now, but the kids have been full of energy and really going after it today.
These kids have not been allowed out here for the last two weeks. All outdoor activities were canceled. That hit the kids particularly hard. They were going to school under a virtual lockdown, code blue, they called it, where the doors were locked, the blinds were closed. No one was going outside. But as you can see, all of that has changed, and the kids couldn't be happier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: It was a little weird to come out and just, like, play, because they weren't even sure that those were the only people. So everybody was like still looking behind them.
MATTINGLY: So how does it feel today?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Good.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Really fun.
MATTINGLY: And you won.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Yeah!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: And grown-ups are pretty relieved today, too. We checked in at some of the area gas stations and strip malls to see how they were doing. A week ago, it wasn't unusual to see people shielding themselves behind the pump as they filled up, and many were -- they weren't wasting any time as they jumped out of the car to go inside the grocery to get that loaf of bread. But today, all of that has changed. A lot of relief around here today, and that probably goes double for these ladies. What would a soccer game be without soccer moms?
You were anxious for the kids to get outside just as much as they were.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, we were. Absolutely.
MATTINGLY: What has it been like for you these last couple of weeks, knowing that your kids wanted to be outside and you had this on the news in your face every single day having to worry about?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, for us, it was worrying every day, are they going to have practice? Do I have to make a decision as to not let them go because I just was too worried. And fortunately everything was canceled, so we didn't have to risk making such a decision.
MATTINGLY: That had to be a lot of stress, taking all those little decisions and turning them into what some people felt was sometimes a life and death situation. Was that going through your mind?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought that it was very traumatic. For my children, my daughter was having nightmares, and I just felt that it was a very anxiety-producing experience for them and for us.
MATTINGLY: What were your children saying to you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, they were -- mine weren't as scared as they were, I think, just wanting to go out and play. You know, I let them play in the backyard, but I wouldn't let them ride their bikes or go to the park or do scooters. So they could only go in the backyard, and that was hard.
My one son who played football and had a great, great game today and just really did his best I've seen him, and he was saying, I just want to go out and hit someone, you know? That boy that just wants to, you know, go.
MATTINGLY: Well, is there any such thing as getting back to normal these days, particularly where you live? There was the attack on the Pentagon at 9/11, there was the anthrax scare, and now a suburban sniper right here where you live. Is there any sense of normal anymore?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a good question. I think it makes us all a little more concerned about and aware of where we live. Washington, D.C. -- I grew up in D.C., and when I was a kid, we had to duck and hide and bring our supplies because the commies might come get us. And so, you know, we kind of have always grown up in this environment.
MATTINGLY: Who is handling it better, you or your kids?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd say the kids are.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think so. I mean, I don't know if they realize just the seriousness of the whole situation. I mean, now that we're free and all they can think of is to go outside and play, and I'm thinking, is it really over? It's just -- it's been very difficult.
MATTINGLY: Well, what a day to be out here. The kids are out there having a good time. The leaves are turning. We've got a lot of brilliant sunshine today, Heidi. A great day on any weekend to be outdoors, but today it takes on, of course, a special meaning. Back to you.
COLLINS: David, it is ironic how incredibly beautiful it looks there right now. And children seem to be so resilient. I have been listening to what some of the child psychologists have been saying on our air, and is that the sense you're also getting from these parents you have been talking to?
MATTINGLY: That's right. The parents were very aware of what was going on, perhaps more of the pressure was on them because they were worried about the children's safety. The children focusing on their more immediate concerns, when can I get back outside.
Of course, the kids have been paying attention to this, too. They are probably on more of a different learning curve than the parents are. So they are reacting much more differently today. They are focused very much on getting back out on that soccer feel and winning the game.
COLLINS: Practicing those shots on goal, too. All right. David Mattingly.
MATTINGLY: That's right.
COLLINS: In Boyds, Maryland, thanks a lot.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 26, 2002 - 13:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: One sure sign life is now returning to normal following the capture of the two sniper suspects, children are once again taking to outdoor sport fields in Maryland without fearing for their lives. CNN's David Mattingly joins us now from Boyds, Maryland, with more on the relief that is being felt around the D.C. area. I can only imagine, David.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Heidi. We're paying very close attention to the little things today, those signs that life is getting back to normal here in the Washington suburbs. One of those signs going on right behind. This is a youth soccer league that's in action. We're between games right now, but the kids have been full of energy and really going after it today.
These kids have not been allowed out here for the last two weeks. All outdoor activities were canceled. That hit the kids particularly hard. They were going to school under a virtual lockdown, code blue, they called it, where the doors were locked, the blinds were closed. No one was going outside. But as you can see, all of that has changed, and the kids couldn't be happier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: It was a little weird to come out and just, like, play, because they weren't even sure that those were the only people. So everybody was like still looking behind them.
MATTINGLY: So how does it feel today?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Good.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Really fun.
MATTINGLY: And you won.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Yeah!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: And grown-ups are pretty relieved today, too. We checked in at some of the area gas stations and strip malls to see how they were doing. A week ago, it wasn't unusual to see people shielding themselves behind the pump as they filled up, and many were -- they weren't wasting any time as they jumped out of the car to go inside the grocery to get that loaf of bread. But today, all of that has changed. A lot of relief around here today, and that probably goes double for these ladies. What would a soccer game be without soccer moms?
You were anxious for the kids to get outside just as much as they were.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, we were. Absolutely.
MATTINGLY: What has it been like for you these last couple of weeks, knowing that your kids wanted to be outside and you had this on the news in your face every single day having to worry about?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, for us, it was worrying every day, are they going to have practice? Do I have to make a decision as to not let them go because I just was too worried. And fortunately everything was canceled, so we didn't have to risk making such a decision.
MATTINGLY: That had to be a lot of stress, taking all those little decisions and turning them into what some people felt was sometimes a life and death situation. Was that going through your mind?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought that it was very traumatic. For my children, my daughter was having nightmares, and I just felt that it was a very anxiety-producing experience for them and for us.
MATTINGLY: What were your children saying to you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, they were -- mine weren't as scared as they were, I think, just wanting to go out and play. You know, I let them play in the backyard, but I wouldn't let them ride their bikes or go to the park or do scooters. So they could only go in the backyard, and that was hard.
My one son who played football and had a great, great game today and just really did his best I've seen him, and he was saying, I just want to go out and hit someone, you know? That boy that just wants to, you know, go.
MATTINGLY: Well, is there any such thing as getting back to normal these days, particularly where you live? There was the attack on the Pentagon at 9/11, there was the anthrax scare, and now a suburban sniper right here where you live. Is there any sense of normal anymore?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a good question. I think it makes us all a little more concerned about and aware of where we live. Washington, D.C. -- I grew up in D.C., and when I was a kid, we had to duck and hide and bring our supplies because the commies might come get us. And so, you know, we kind of have always grown up in this environment.
MATTINGLY: Who is handling it better, you or your kids?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd say the kids are.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think so. I mean, I don't know if they realize just the seriousness of the whole situation. I mean, now that we're free and all they can think of is to go outside and play, and I'm thinking, is it really over? It's just -- it's been very difficult.
MATTINGLY: Well, what a day to be out here. The kids are out there having a good time. The leaves are turning. We've got a lot of brilliant sunshine today, Heidi. A great day on any weekend to be outdoors, but today it takes on, of course, a special meaning. Back to you.
COLLINS: David, it is ironic how incredibly beautiful it looks there right now. And children seem to be so resilient. I have been listening to what some of the child psychologists have been saying on our air, and is that the sense you're also getting from these parents you have been talking to?
MATTINGLY: That's right. The parents were very aware of what was going on, perhaps more of the pressure was on them because they were worried about the children's safety. The children focusing on their more immediate concerns, when can I get back outside.
Of course, the kids have been paying attention to this, too. They are probably on more of a different learning curve than the parents are. So they are reacting much more differently today. They are focused very much on getting back out on that soccer feel and winning the game.
COLLINS: Practicing those shots on goal, too. All right. David Mattingly.
MATTINGLY: That's right.
COLLINS: In Boyds, Maryland, thanks a lot.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
