Yesterday evening. I’m having drinks with a friend at Landmarc when my phone rings. It’s my friend “Bro”. She asks me if I’ve heard anything about the explosion at Grand Central. “The what?” I ask her. Apparently, her friend Nancy called her to see if she was alright. Nancy heard that her friend heard that there was an explosion in New York. Given that the news was via-via and not from a direct source, I blow it off as hype. But, then I notice several other patrons in the restaurant are mumbling something about an explosion. An hour later, my friend and I depart Landmarc, and I head to Grand Central Station to see if I can still catch my train. I’m surprised to see so many police officers, police cars, firetrucks, flashing lights and other signs of emergency management. Oddly enough, I’m more surprised to see that everyone seems to be going about their lives as usual. On 47th and Lex, a woman is 5 words away from cussing out a traffic cop who won’t let her know how to get through to the other side of the neighborhood. On 42nd and 2nd, a man uses his cell phone to take a picture of the steam explosion’s aftermath. No one seems too shaken. It’s all very calm.
The word that comes to mind when I think of this city and all of the people who dwell within? Resilient.And, speaking of New York, life’s been a bit hectic this week. I look forward to a slower week next week.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Whaaaaat?! How scary! And true, about the resilience. Crazy shit… What’s the latest news?
So glad you’re safe, but this is just sad. Enough with the hate, already. :o(
I think the latest news is that it’s just some random problem with one of the pipes. Although the very early reports speculated that it might be terrorism, I think they’ve ruled that out for now.
FBC, a drink saved my life (kinda…)
I was at 5th and 41st when a friend called me for a drink. Turned around. Heard a big bang just before I got to 7th. Didn’t find out until my second martini I may have been a lucky for a change.
Watchathink, should I change my ‘nom de plume’ to LuckyBoy?
That’s a tough one. I can understand the desire to change the name, but I still kinda like “ErrorBoy” better.
Hmmm … ErrorBoy, LuckyBoy. Your choice.
Lots of resilience in the world today.
I have a good friend who lives in London, and he told me a similar story the day 52 people got killed by terrorists in the Tubes. He said he was really surprised by the calmness of everybody in the city that day – yes, everybody knew it was a horrible act, and that people had been killed, but there was no screaming, no running, no panic at all.
I guess people have learned to be resilient when they need to be nowadays.
One of the things I miss most about NYC – pragmatic, nonplussed, down-to-brass-tacks kinda people. I remember being in the Bowery during when apparently CNN-televised a hysteria-filled “red alert” – all of my family members and friends in LA were calling me on my cell, “i’m watching CNN are you ok Are You Okay ARE YOU OKAY?????” i told them i was at a Rafe sample sale and not about to lose my place in line for Wolf Blitzer, and asked them if they wanted anything because everything in the store was 75% off. i took 3 trains back up to harlem carrying 7 handbags, 2 dopp kits and huge a leather duffle and no one batted a lash.
sample sales (*sniff, tears*). I miss NYC!!!
Baba Doodlius: Exactly. Every now and then, humanity actually impresses me. :) It’s like, just when you expect people to freak out and all hell to break loose, people somehow find it within themselves to maintain a sense of peace and calmness.
Susan: The city’s grand, ain’t it? Yeah, who knows/when/if I ever leave this city in the future, I think I’d miss it, too. By the way … I *TOTALLY* understand your decision to stay at the sample sale. I’d never been to one before I came to New York. Man, those things are GREAT!!!