Like millions of other people in the NYC area, Elaine (my wife) and I
spent most of last week in the cold dark, without light or heat. We did have cold running water, and the toilets flushed, so we were
luckier than many.
We
live downtown, and by Wednesday we learned that there were pockets of
power up by 26th and 6th. So, to get out of the apartment, we'd trek up
each evening about twenty blocks in the dark to find a restaurant.
The
journey from our apartment to the land of light was other-worldly. It
brought to mind images I've encountered over the years about the
afterlife. You might think the pitch black streets would be empty, but
they were loaded with other pilgrims scrounging around like us for food,
warmth and whatever household supplies they were lucky enough to
discover in the rare store that was open.
Many of us carried flashlights in our hands to guide our way; some wore
them on their foreheads like miners. Others strolled without light at
all, as if they had night vision.
Walking these streets made you
feel like you were part of an army of shadows -- one of the shades of
the classical underworld. And the military reference is more than just
an analogy. As we strolled back and forth to our destination, we'd
periodically notice the men and women of the National Guard walking
along side us in camouflage attire, gently laughing and joking into the
night.
Continue reading over at Jerome's blog espresso bongo . . .
