[proxy_user]

I have escaped from lower Manhattan, I know what I’m talking about. If you’re in one of those buildings and you have no light, your bathroom is completely dark and you can’t even see your toilet. You may have filled your bathtub with water and laid in flashlights, but now the water is used up, the food is eaten, and the flashlights are dead, and it’s getting cold.

I am a reasonably fit 59-year-old, but after 36 hours I was in trouble. My legs and knees started to numb up from just sitting around, and there was only 11 hours of daylight, so you had to sleep 13 hours. I didn’t have much in flashlights, and my bathtub doesn’t even hold water.

So I took 3 credit cards, $1000 in cash, packed up a few things and walked down a dark stairwell. The lobby was illuminated with jack o’lanterns, a macabre touch. I got a cab quickly, a got to my parking garage on Pier 40. My big fear was that I couldn’t get my car out, because the exit gates of the garage need electricity. But the garage guys were great, they had all the gates wide open. I drove back to my apartment with no traffic lights, walked up the 12 flights again and packed as much as I could carry, including my laptop, and went down again. Second time was tough on the knees. I felt bad leaving my neighbors behind, but what could I do? I offered to take them anywhere they wanted, but they have no money and nowhere to go.

Drove through giant traffic jams to get to the West Side Highway. Once on it, no traffic. I am in northern Connecticut, near the Massachusetts border, at my brother’s house. I’m not going back until next week.

[Stat-boy]

Thanks for a good description of the circumstances. I wish you well and pray for your comfort and of those in your situation as you struggle with the aftermath.

[tomkat]

Great post and great escape .. Plus the excellent touch of offering neighbors rides !

There must be tens of thousands in their shoes .. simple no place else to go.

Having a bionic leg myself (titanium rod/screws) and being of similar age, I can certainly empathise.
Damned hardware hangs onto the cold, not to mention playin' hell with metal detectors   ;-)

Anyway, good news that you're out and with family .. Cheers

[gundog]

Be well. I think the veneer will come off pretty quickly. Ya missed Aerosmith on the Plaza this morning, though.:)

[Blood of Tyrants]

Thanks for the update. Good luck!