Apart from last night.

I'd left work at the unfashionably late hour, for me, of 5:00 pm. I arrived at the pier to find that the line for my ferry was five blocks long.

"Damn, look at this stinkin' line!" But, what are you going to do? I joined the line, and 20 minutes later, I'd just made my way onto the pier proper. Probably only another five minutes to the boat. Then "All passengers must clear the pier immediately" - crowds of cops with bullhorns. "Please move back to the sidewalk". Guys with walkie-talkies everywhere. "Position two: do you copy?", running, and waving their hands.

No mention as to why. Rumors fly. "Suspicious package", "The pier's collapsing", "Giuliani's declared war on New Jersey". Etc.

I never did find out what it was. But every boat on the river was stopped for an hour.

I finally got out of there at 7:00. First time I've seen the NYC skyline after dark in years. Two small observations:

First, I couldn't begin to tell you how eerie the WTC site is after dark. They work all night under giant floodlights, and when you see the cranes' silhouettes against the giant lights, you can't help but wonder what they remind you of. Probably everybody on the boat gets a different mental picture, but it made me think of some giant, perverted puppet show.

Whatever, its a creepy, creepy sight. Even if were just rubble, it's still a sight to haunt you. And it's much more than rubble of course. Your emotions veer back and forth; you try to grieve for the people the most, but there are times you find yourself grieving for the building too. Odd.

The Spire's still standing. It glows, under the lights. Good.

Second, I saw a sight which I've never seen before, in God knows how long of working around there - totally dark commercial buildings. Nobody ever turns the lights out in NYC for God's sake!

It was pitch black by then; so dark you couldn't actually see the buildings between you and the well lit WTC site. The buildings are to the West of the former WTC - the Hudson River side - they're part of the World Financial Center. Nothing to light 'em up from the river side, and not a single light inside. Completely dark, they become invisible at night.

Just that suddenly, your view would change as a WFC shaped hole appeared in the skyline and the hole moved slowly, slowly south as the ferry moved north. That was creepy too. Dark office towers; they've stolen more of New York City than I thought.

This morning was damp and foggy. From the boat, you couldn't see either bank of the river. I was thinking something to the effect of "Jesus creeping shit, but I'm glad these boats have radar", when suddenly a tug-boat appeared out of the mist. He looked at first like he was headed right for us. Christ, but what an irony that would be, eh? Get lucky on the morning of 9/11, and get hit by a tug on 10/11. He steered away. Did I mention that I've been even more anxious than usual this last month?

A guy I know attended the minute of silence at the site this morning at 8:48. I didn't know about it, else I'd have gone with him. He was hard pressed to talk when he got back.