54 Years Ago Today; The Northeast Blackout of 1965 leaves millions in the dark

[cyclonefence]

9. I honest to god thought I had caused it

I was in college near NYC and had stopped at the deserted students building (it was just before dinner) to play the Beatles' song "I'm Down" over and over again on the free Rockola. I had played it maybe eight times when the lights started to dim in a strange, orangish way and the Rockola slowly, slowly stopped. Oh shit. I've burned it out. There goes my scholarship. I hustled out of there, praying that no one had seen me, and began walking quickly toward my dorm. All the lamps along the walkways had turned orange, and I walked a little more quickly--not only would I lose my scholarship, but I was going to have to pay for the damage to the electric plant on campus.

When I got to my dorm and heard girls talking about their parents being stuck on elevators in the city, I got smiley while they despaired. My scholarship was safe!