No one seemed to know about the "unite tonight" posters I saw, but told me about a vigil in Thompkins Square Park at 8pm. Typical lower east side, quite a mix of different folks, unorganized, small, but cool. The first folks under that big tree in the center of the park were kids, and a few adults with candles. Odd to remember the last time I was in this same spot, a Radical Faery funeral for John Greenburg so many years ago..... Others came, some spoke, one stupid remark early on was calmly, firmly, but gently rebuked by a "we're here for each other, out of love, go away", and folks nodded or clapped in agreement. Some songs were sung, but usually no one could remember the 2nd verse of any on the songs, with nervous laughter following each of those attempts. Nothing like what I'm seeing now on t.v. from Union Square (lots of folks, dancing, and big T.V camera lights flooding), which is good, since the one guy with an annoying camera and flood light was truely intrusive. Some guy in the distance played weird guitar music, one friend of mine couldn't deal with it (understandably he left, which was fine) and I found another buddy, we listened, sat, hugged, and eventually left when a speech or two just seemed too goofy - and I don't mean to be disrespectful, but what a few folks had to say just wasn't my cup of tea, nothing bad, just goofy.

Now the rain clouds are rolling in. I don't know how they will deal with that, sounds like it could really fuck things up downtown.... more places are readying to handle volunteers, like right over here on 13th between B and C tomorrow - good idea to check that out. Me and Mom have now been playing phone tag, and long distance service is still hard to get.... but talked to one sister, who's husband is trapped on the west coast. Another rumor on t.v. that they have cell-phone contact with a group of 10 people trapped in the sub-basement...........6,000 tons of debris have been removed already... i can't make sense of any of this.......