Is this what we do now?

Yesterday I was in a classroom with one of my new colleagues and my nursing
school friend who is working with me. We were watching a video about shock
emergencies, but the company that makes the "emergency" videos apparently
thought that a bland, too-fast lecture by a woman who looked like a cross
between Kathy Bates and Molly Ringwald would keep our attention. The funny
thing is, at the start of every video I am really motivated. Then we get
interrupted, or a conversation starts in the office attached to the
classroom, and by the time I am paying attention again I am completely lost.
It's easier just to chat, and think to myself "I'll have to read up on
shock," even though I probably won't.
Yesterday we were talking in a somewhat getting-to-know-you, superficial
way, when suddenly my new colleague was talking about where she was and what
she was doing on September 11, 2001. It felt weird, but at the same time, a
little bit normal. I don't know if I like it, but I'm pretty sure it has
happened with most of the new people I have met and become friends with
since I moved back to New York. It doesn't always happen immediately, and
it's usually not tied to any particular feelings, but at the same time it is
as if it is a necessary step in building new friendships nowadays. I
remember when it happened, my friend was telling me about her grandfather
who was in Pearl Harbor and how for his whole life he got nervous when
planes were flying overhead. She wondered if there would be lasting effects
for us. I wonder if this is it--not a sense of worry, but a sort of sizing
up. "Yep, I was there, you were there too, nope, not into the 'war on
terror,' don't think all Muslims are terrorists, ok now we can maybe be
friends." That last part may just be on my side.
It's entirely possible that I am overanalyzing this, and that it doesn't
happen nearly as often as I think, and that it's just a weird thing. I just
know I felt a little strange yesterday when she brought it up, and I was
wondering why.

Side note: I went to my favorite restaurant yesterday with one of my
favorite old roommate's who is visiting from California, and two of my very
favorite friends in New York. We have all been friends for a very long
time--any lack of mention of them on this blog is entirely due to my self
centeredness, and does not reflect their importance in my life.

Second side note: I just rented a car in Indiana. It was $21/day. That was
actually on the expensive side; the cheaper ones were around $12.74/day.
When I rented a car in New York a couple of weeks ago it was over $100/day.
I think if I lived in Indiana, and I didn't have a car, I would rent a car
and drive all the time. The mileage is unlimited! Think of all the
possibilities!