A Guardian Angel is Watching Over Me
Others have said it and now I believe them.
I must be truly blessed Ladies and Gents. A Guardian Angel is watching over me. Literally a ton of Bricks just missed me!
Every day I walk the exact same route to catch the subway, and never deviate.
Yesterday at 5:50pm, after I logged out of WA, I was about to do the same, when in mid stride realized I had to change my course and go to the local FedEx Copy Center across the street to print our pool match sheet.
My printer inexplicably stopped working earlier during the day.
So instead I crossed the street and walked on the west end toward Fed Ex on the other side of Eighth Avenue during rush hour in the busy and bustling Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.
What happened next is something straight out of the Twilight Zone.
A Ton Of Bricks Just Missed!
As I am walking on the other side of the street, literally a ton of bricks came crashing down from the 5th floor facade of an old 1920s tenement building above the local dry cleaners, landing in the middle of the sidewalk on the exact spot where I would normally be walking.
Here you can see the height from which the bricks rained down from high above the 5th story window of the old tenement building.
There is a good chance had I not uncharacteristically changed my course, I wouldn't be blogging to you right now.
Since this is such a busy time during rush hour, it's a miracle no one was severely injured or killed.
I realized this as I walked out of the FedEx at 6:02pm and noticed a large congregation of people taking photos in front of the building. Immediately NYPD police cars were on it, roping the entire area off. I just happened to get these photos right before then.
At first it didn't hit me (no pun intended), until I quickly realized how narrowly I'd escaped.
Here is the first NYPD police car on the scene.
The debris collapsed on the East Side of Eighth Ave between 17th and 18th Street. This is where I normally would be walking, and yesterday was the only time I ever decided to walk on the westside of the avenue.
The Chelsea neighborhood in NYC is a very eclectic area of the city with a broad array of mixed use buildings, both residential and commercial, city parks ans infrastructure such as the Highline, and with many brand new ultra-modern structures yet still with some old brick buildings being neglected to disrepair.
Above to the far left is Zaha Hadid's new curved condominium complex, with the Highline in the background. Further behind are some of the older buildings.
This is the street sign in the Chelsea neighborhood on the corner of 17th Street and Eighth Ave.
I was on my way to catch the subway to the Union Square stop.
Life is truly fragile, and hangs in the balance my dear friends.
Live every moment to the fullest. Love each other, help one another. Be kind to your brothers and sisters.
Tomorrow is never promised, nor is later today.
Cheers,
Kaju
Recent Comments
182
Thanks so much again Windflower:) I have a new You Tube channel where I'm producing great content.
Check out our great Tokyo story as well as my Efren Reyes match win video play by play:)
Send me your YT link and I will Subscribe. You can Subscribe to my channel here:)
http://bit.ly/2T21P2N
If you don't yet, I will happily return the favor when yours is up.:)
Yes, no doubt we do have guardian angels watching over us. What an amazing story!! So glad it had a good ending! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much again SmartBoy:) I have a new You Tube channel where I'm producing great content.
Check out our great Tokyo story as well as my Efren Reyes match win video play by play:)
Send me your YT link and I will Subscribe. You can Subscribe to my channel here:)
http://bit.ly/2T21P2N
If you don't yet, I will happily return the favor when yours is up.:)
Glad you're safe kaju!
Someone is watching over you!
Life truly is fragile and you're right, tomorrow is never promised.
I went to a wake last week and the sister of the deceased said she never really understood her own sister and wish she had known her better - she said we must cherish our loved ones and those we care about. When I went home, I sent a message to a dear friend and explained what was said and how I just wanted to tell her that she is special to me and I'm glad she's in my life. Her response back was even more touching.
Let's show love and kindness to each other when we can as we never know if there will be a tomorrow.
You nailed it Jackie, and I appreciate that. We need to tell the most important people in our lives how much we love them, and do not leave any loose ends undone.
The worst thing is to have regret in never telling someone how you truly feel, such as an estranged sister, or a dear friend you had a falling out with.
We need to let go of our own egos, and focus on what is truly most important. Tommorow is never promised, nor is later today.
If anyone had any prior doubts, my narrow escape proves this.
Those bricks on the floor that fell from the top of the building next to "Alterations" is the photographic evidence from the scene, Mike.
Do I need to put a time stamp on it?
I don't believe in coincidences Joe, we are all part of the dynamic fabric of the universe:)
Amazing! This is why I try my best to never leave anything between anyone I care about on a bad note because anything can happen anytime. Glad to hear your safe :)
That is SO true Huy, and you have a great habit in place! Never take tomorrow or even "later today" for granted:)
Thanks so much again Barbara:) I have a new You Tube channel where I'm producing great content.
Check out our great Tokyo story as well as my Efren Reyes match win video play by play:)
Send me your YT link and I will Subscribe. You can Subscribe to my channel here:)
http://bit.ly/2T21P2N
If you don't yet, I will happily return the favor when yours is up.:)
See more comments
So glad your not hurt, keep that guardian angel close
Thank You E, the Guardian Angel is with me, and I will always try to keep Him/Her there.