Sandy's No Gas Zones

The New York Times is reporting this good news:

For the first time in five days, power will return to a small sliver of Lower Manhattan, including Wall Street, by midnight Friday, Consolidated Edison officials said.

And all of the utility’s customers in Manhattan who lost power when Hurricane Sandy barreled into the city should expect to have electricity on Saturday,

But at the same time, the Times tells us that gasoline has run out, and it's created yet another Thunderdome:

Though Thursday marked the start of the return to routine for many who commute to work or celebrated the resumption of power, the scenes of long lines, fistfights at gas stations and siphoning at parking lots highlighted the difficult, uneven slog to recovery.

On Friday, the Queens district attorney’s office said a St. Albans man had been arrested after he pointed a pistol at a motorist who complained when he tried to cut a line at a gas station. The man, Sean M. Bailey, 35, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing.

May all who are affected by the storm find shelter. May all be happy. May all be well. May all find patience. May all find compassion. And may all find peace.

Sandy At The Shore

Seaside Heights, New Jersey

This roller coaster used to be on the Funtown Pier in Seaside Heights. Now the pier is gone. And the coaster is in the ocean. It's the end of an era.

Sandy has rearranged the Jersey Shore. I have always loved the Jersey Shore. It's heartbreaking to see the photos of how it is today.

On a better day, there was this:

My heart goes out to all of those who are suffering. May they find shelter. May they be safe. May they be well. May they be consoled. May they rebuild their lives.

Metta After Sandy

Breezy Point, Queens

May all beings be happy. May all beings be free from suffering. May all beings have equanimity. May all beings be free from hatred. May all beings have the bliss that is beyond suffering. May all beings be well. May all beings be safe. May all beings have refuge. May all beings realize their enlightenment.