Another day to breathe

Last Wednesday night, we decided to stop for a few 'school night' drinks at a bar on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. We don't get the chance too often, so it felt good to sit in the rear of the bar, relax, put a few back, and chat.

After we had been there a while, I returned from the men's room to Gina's mention that something very odd had happened. "I saw some lights spark outside, and heard what sounded like firecrackers going off", she said. No sooner, a bartender came back to our area and was saying that someone had been shot dead right outside the bar. And quite quickly, the vibe changed.

Almost immediately the news was spread. Everyone, it seemed, glanced their eyes towards the now drape-covered front window....though the acoustic duo upstairs did their best to keep all distracted by continuing to play without hesitation.

We decided to stick around for a bit longer to let things chill out....and also gather our somewhat disturbed sense of safety and well-being. Though it was apparent that any danger had stopped, it was a bit eary to think we could have just as easily been right outside the bar while the guns were ablazing.

When we went to leave, we found out that a crime scene was taped off outside, and the entire bar was restricted from leaving for what became the next 4 hours while an investigation was carried out. Some bits of information filtered through the bar about what happened, but it wouldn't be until the next day that we found out the full story.

Apparently, a disturbed and disgruntled man had shot a former employer to death at a restaurant around the corner, then shot two innocent and unarmed auxillary policemen who chased him down the street, and ultimately met his own end in front of our bar, shot down by other ensuing police.

Not the type of thing one expects to stumble across during a casual night on the town in the middle of Manhattan. But further proof that one can never be sure of anything, regardless of location and time.

I am sure grateful for our safety that night, but am even more saddened for the other men who were likely unaware that Wednesday would be the last day of their short lives.