Mickey Z

Cool Observer

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Friday, July 13, 2007

The Blackout of 1977 (30 years later)

Once upon a time...

I was working at Gimbel’s during the July 13, 1977 blackout. Coincidentally, it occurred on inventory night…the one day of the year when overtime was mandatory. I dragged my tired teenaged body all over the goddamned building, counting things: bed sheets, pots, rugs, footballs, books, shirts, spoons, shoes, and more.

If Kafka worked with me at Gimbel’s, he’d have another novel.

Somehow, I managed to get myself released before the others (I’ve always been good at stuff like that). Miraculously, this allowed me to get off the old RR train (now the N or W line) before the lights went out. As I stepped off the last stair down from the Ditmars Boulevard station, the lights went out. For a millisecond, it seemed my foot did it as it hit the pavement. Then I realized what had happened and smiled. I missed getting stuck on the train by mere minutes.

I got home and everyone was out on the street. A guy who lived on my block was drunk, but that didn’t stop him from trying to direct traffic. Being the analytical sort, I figured that the power would be restored and I’d still have to get up for work early the next day…so I didn’t hang out to take in the blackout madness. Instead, I ate dinner and hit the sack at my regular time.

Power was restored but Gimbel’s was closed the next day. I didn’t have to go to work after all. I spent that day kicking myself for being such a practical 17-year-old and missing out on all the blackout fun because I was worried about getting enough sleep.

The End