A feel for quake’s destruction

Re “Shaken to his foundations,” Column One, May 29

Times reporter Mark Magnier’s journey through quake-destroyed Beichuan, China, is a living, breathing testimony to overseas journalists who take extraordinary risks to report on a disaster firsthand. They scramble to make deadline not only for their editors but for readers. I was “with” Magnier as he jumped on motorbikes and hiked over boulders to get to the quake-ravaged towns. He described scenes of horror with such eloquent words that I was standing there with him amid the death and destruction.

As Magnier returns to his more sane world, and tries to stay aware of his vows to keep promises and not leave important things unsaid, may I stop now, Mark, and say to you, “Thank you for taking me with you.”

Wendy A. Robinson

Saugus