The Street Performed

Paul arrived late this morning (not late for him, but late for an appointment) due to detours on his walk from 40th and 2nd Avenue to 40th and Madison. His greeting: "Did you see that steam yesterday? It was amazing." The commute was short this morning compared to the hour it took him to go four blocks last night.

He left five minutes after me. I was heading West. When I emerged from the building I was assailed by the sound of sirens. Not unusual ... but something seemed different. The streets were swarmed with people. Again, not unusual ... but there was something about the vibe of the street that wasn't an average Wednesday evening. As I pushed through to cross the street I was aware that a disproportionate number were on cellphones. Once again, not unusual ... but it wasn't normal. It was fear.

Listening in I picked up on comments such as, "A building just collapsed" and "There was a bomb in Grand Central." Whatever it was, I was heading the opposite direction of the approaching Fire Engines. Walking West on 40th street, and looking back, there was no way to tell, other than the fact that the cars were backing up and out to let the emergency vehicles in.

Approaching Fifth Avenue the crowd thickened. The steps of the Library were filled with people, all looking in one direction. This was typical ... only they were not there to watch the street performers. Today, the street itself was performing. The steps provided premium seats - a front row view of black smoke billowing up as high as the skyscrapers on the vista. Impromtu videographers captured the scene. The smoke appeared to be approaching, so I continued on my way, stopping only long enough to wonder at the few whose clothes were sprayed with mud.

By the time I got to 42nd Street traffic was blocked off. Officers ordered us to head West. It was the first time I'd walked down the middle of 42nd Street. I'd seen this scene before, but only in the movies. Most people struck the classic pose of walking forward with head turned back. Lot's wife representing our common humanity.

Several times I reached out to make a call only to realize - each time as if for the first time - I'd accidentally left my cell phone at home. It was hours before I heard the NEWS. Steam pipe explosion. 1 dead, 26 injured, sinkhole the size of a truck, subways evacuated.

Today back to work as usual, the tone having changed from fear to "that was amazing." It's raining again and tonight I catch the subway downtown from Grand Central Station.