Am I the only person in Manhattan on High Alert??? During the holidays I remained on High Alert so A-listers could party away. I watched TV vigilantly and scanned the skies to keep the country safe and look out for us all. No wonder I’ve gained 10 pounds since 9/11—I’ve eaten nothing but whipped cream and plenty of desserts! What am I saving myself for? I now see planes as torpedoes with people reading in the windows! Life on High Alert means we can’t take our eyes off the ball, or we’re doomed. In fact, we need to keep up hourly TV reports—sports, weather, and terrorism!

As astrologer Maxine Fiel, who foresaw acts of terror in 1972, says: “We need to be alert. The terrorists have plans, sending smokescreens and deliberately misleading us with phony strike alerts. But when they catch us off guard, comfortable, caught up in our trivia, they will strike. And they are counting on our carelessness.” We can’t underestimate terrorists. We need to understand their nature as we understand the nature of a rat or snake—to avoid being bitten! This is a close encounter with a breed of a third kind. So tell me, why do we feed the hand that bites us? Everything with this breed is turned inside out—we’re all for foreign aid, which often comes back to bite us from behind! And they’re laughing … all the way to their caves!

This war can’t take a back seat when our attention span lags. Unlike the saying “no news is good news,” in this case it’s “no news is bad news.” Remember, the victim always finds his assailant. Why? Because the victim is Off Guard! We cannot ever be Off Guard for the rest of our lives! A-listers must form a High Alert Club and sponsor regular High Alert Balls! STAY CONSCIOUS. NO MORE DENIAL!

Actually, it’s good to see the Rich & Glitzy back in full swing again. After 9/11 they were forced to rethink their lives, question their values, and assess what is really important. They rediscovered patriotism, recognized they have to be thankful for each moment no matter how bad things may look, and—stopped going out!!! Moguls and honchos started working shorter, flexible work hours to spend more time with family and friends. Well hel-lo, no wonder the city’s economy slid into recession!!! When A-listers stop working, shopping, and going to parties, what do you expect? The city’s ability to rebuild and renew itself is key to its fiscal health, and how can the city rebound without A-listers at the helm??? Look at the “I Love New York” campaign and all the hotel and restaurants offering great deals to get people to come to the city and boost the economy. Who would come to New York if they couldn’t see movers & shakers anywhere and everywhere???

Of course, New Yorkers are natural Warriors. Being in combat is simply part of daily life. So if anyone can survive terrorism, it’s a New Yorker. We ban together on the front lines to protect our city and our survival. The symbols of freedom—the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Bergdorf’s—never meant as much to me as they do now. I look at the beauty of New York and all its glory—lights, colors, glitter—and feel fiercely protective of my city ... this beautiful proud city. And with the knowledge of terrorist threats on the forefront of my mind, until further notice I remain on High Alert!!!

New York is the capital of America!
New York is a wonderful COUNTRY!
New York needs its own National Anthem!

Party to your heart’s content! If nothing else, but in defiance!
And, most of all ... We Must Never Forget!