Still groggy and shuffling to the bathroom, I noticed 27 messages flashing on my answering machine. Who is blowing up my phone I wondered. I pushed play, rewinding the mini cassette. Caller after caller asked if I was OK and did I see it or can you believe this. I’d just woken up and had no idea what they were talking about. So I turned on the tv to NY1 hoping for answers. And I got them. Immediately.
I checked in with my mom who was relieved to hear my voice then hopped on my bike. I had to visit with Steph and Don. They lived downtown on West 8th street. The ride took about 20 minutes — on a normal day. But on this day, I rode slowly, letting my bike decide which path to take, paying extra attention to my surroundings.