4:30 A.M

John Poyser

It's 4:20 and I'm cold. I've been up since 3:30, my cab was late and I'm panicked about the crush of people I can see ahead of me. I snapped on the TV on the way out the door to find a shot of 3000+ people crowded around Lotta's Fountain, and now that I'm there I can see there are more like 6000. But by the time I get to Market Street, I'm glad I'm there.

There were huge jumbotrons set up on four corners; the ferry building is whirling all colors of the rainbow; people in period costumes are running around; and there on the stage, in front of the fountain, are Mayor Newsom and 12 of the surviving Survivors. I'm gonna admit I'm a bit emotional (sob). I mean, how often does this happen?!

I decide to get a better look and take a right on Market to stand behind the press. Guess what everyone else wanted to do! Including the drunks that had been up all night long and people pushing their luggage down the street screaming, "I have to catch a plane. Get out of my way!" We all laughed. One guy lost it and screamed, "Hey, everyone is here to honor the coming together of the city in the face of a disaster and you're trying to pull everything apart."

As 5:12 came around there was an amazing minute of silence after which every siren and fire station alarm in the city was set off. Gavin Newsom introduced the survivors we were treated to one of them saying that she was cold and would be a lot better off and lot warmer with Gavin around. The crowd loved her! And her stories of being born and conceived in the refugee tents, as well as being raised by prostitutes. She explained that her father had owned a saloon that was destroyed by the fire and quake and that when her mother was working selling sandwiches, the women upstairs who were "always home" because of their work and were able to take care of her and raise her very well.

Now I've got to get ready for the earthquake relief cottage on Yerba Buena Lane. Then I'll head to the parade, which starts at 10:00 am. See you there!