Why Every New Yorker Should Have a Prozac Prescription

[cafemama]

I walked down the stairs and out the door of my office building. I immediately sensed something was going on. But, like the New Yorker I've become, I ignored it and walked on towards the subway. When I got to Park Ave, I couldn't ignore it any longer. There were no cars going north on Park Ave. That was most definitely not normal. Then an unmarked police car sped up the street sirens on. That's when I got scared.

I decided not to go down into the subway. If something really was wrong, I didn't want to be stuck underground. So, I started to walk south in the general direction of home. I caught snippets of conversation: "A man on a building", "an explosion", "Grand Central". Of course, thoughts of terrorism immediately entered my thoughts. All around me people stopped on the sidewalk with cellphones to their ears. I got mine out and tried to call home. Luckily my husband had gone home early today. But, I couldn't get through - All signals busy. I've only gotten "All Signals Busy" twice before - the blackout and 9/11.

I kept walking and noticed people looking north. I turned around. A huge plume of smoke was in the air right over where Grand Central would be. I kept dialing home and eventually I got through. With a crackling voice, I asked him to turn on the news and tell me what was going on. The news crews had just gotten there and didn't know exactly what had happened but they were talking about an underground explosion. No mention of terrorism.

I shakily walked on. My plan was to try to find a train that ran up the west side - I figured I'd have better luck finding a train running if I got to a line that didn't run through Grand Central. A few steps away from the subway entrance, 5 police offers ran by me. The officer in the lead was taking long draws on a cigarette while he hustled down into the subway. I decided not to follow them. Who knows what was going on down there?

Instead, I did what any good New York woman would do. I went shoe shopping. I bought some cute gold peep toes with a slingback. Then I ventured down to the subway.  And I made it home without incident. 

Now I'm watching the news and seeing the huge gaping hole on Lexington Ave. It appears it was a steam explosion. But, I still cried a few tears now that I'm safe at home and can relax. Living here can be so stressful. And these scares are just so much scarier when I'm trying to get home to my baby. I'm so happy to be on my couch.