Leonard Lopate: The Rocket’s Red Glare

Summary

The Moth Podcast: "The Rocket’s Red Glare" by Leonard Lopate

Introduction

In the episode titled "The Rocket’s Red Glare," Leonard Lopate shares a gripping and personal story that encapsulates chaos, loss, and resilience. Recorded live at The Moth in 2003, under the theme "Blue in the Face: Stories About Smoke," Lopate takes listeners through a harrowing experience during Chinese New Year in Chinatown.

Living in Chinatown: A Predestined Harmony [02:41 – 04:00]

Leonard Lopate begins by setting the scene of his life in Chinatown, where he lived for 25 years. He highlights his belief in Chinese astrology, noting that both he and his wife were born in the Year of the Dragon—a sign traditionally associated with power and good fortune. This shared astrological sign had them confident that their marriage and life together would be auspicious.

“We really thought things were going to be great.” [03:05]

The Fireworks Frenzy: A Night of Terror [04:01 – 07:30]

During Chinese New Year, Chinatown becomes a relentless battleground of fireworks, echoing day and night. Lopate and his wife endure continuous explosions, often waking up abruptly to the loud bursts.

“Chinatown in those days sounded like a war zone.” [04:45]

One night, seeking respite, they attend a screening of a Brazilian film titled "Stairway to Heaven." As they exit the theater, they notice fire trucks congregating outside their apartment. Initially dismissing it as a usual occurrence on Canal Street, they soon realize something catastrophic has happened when they see their cat, Motley, lifelessly hanging from a fireman's arm.

“Our cat, Motley, was hanging over the arm of a fireman.” [05:30]

The Aftermath: Devastation and Loss [07:31 – 10:15]

Confronted with the destruction, Leonard and his wife find their loft in ruins. The fire had obliterated their possessions—art supplies, furniture, books, and even Leonard's extensive record collection. The apartment was filled with blackened interiors, broken windows, and explosive remnants from the fire.

“Everything was destroyed. We were in more trouble than Motley was in.” [08:10]

Leonard describes the surreal experience of trying to salvage what little remained. Their bed was soaked, and the pervasive smell left them numb for days. Attempts to sleep on the damp mattress amidst ruinous chaos are vividly portrayed.

Struggling to Rebuild: Navigating Loss [10:16 – 13:00]

The couple faces the harsh reality of dealing with insurance claims, which initially responded harshly, insinuating fault. However, a Buddhist fire inspector discovered a purple stick—a part of the rocket that had set the fire—exonerating them from blame.

“At least we weren't going to be blamed for it.” [10:50]

As they sift through the debris, Leonard reflects on the losses:

“My wife's art career, destroyed, all of our furniture, destroyed everything we owned. It's ruined our lives.” [12:30]

Despite the devastation, small survivals like a partially intact painting provide a glimmer of hope, although even these remnants are damaged beyond recognition.

Interactions with the Community: Finding Humor in Tragedy [13:01 – 15:00]

In a poignant encounter, Leonard and his wife return to Canal Street and meet the elderly Chinese lady who sells fireworks—and inadvertently, the very rocket that caused their destruction.

“It's ruined our lives.” [14:00]
“$5. Actually, that was a good thing because we found it funny.” [14:10]

This interaction, while initially infuriating, becomes a source of dark humor for the couple, helping them cope with their immense losses.

Life After the Fire: The Poverty Elite [15:01 – 18:30]

Navigating life post-fire, Leonard and his wife stay with affluent individuals who offer them temporary shelter. This period is marked by stark contrasts—living in luxurious settings while grappling with their own poverty-stricken reality.

“We were part of the poverty elite. We were living great.” [16:45]

Leonard recounts experiences such as attending high-end events like "Babette's Feast" while struggling with homelessness, highlighting the absurdity and dichotomy of their situation.

Rebuilding and Reflecting: Returning Home [18:31 – 21:50]

After months of living with others and minimal possessions, the couple begins the arduous process of restoring their home. They face challenges like mold growth due to the fire damage and the daunting task of repainting their loft.

“It was hard to paint a house that's had a fire because mold develops.” [19:10]

During this period, Leonard reflects on personal growth and the importance of community support. He shares a moment of regret when he failed to help a fellow disaster victim, leading him to vow always to assist those in need.

“There but for the grace of God go you. Find that woman.” [21:00]

Conclusion: The Cost of Fire and Gratitude [21:51 – End]

Leonard Lopate concludes his story by acknowledging the immense financial and emotional toll the fire took on his life. Despite the hardships, he expresses gratitude for the resilient spirit that helped him and his wife navigate through the darkest times.

“That fire has cost me a fortune. Thank you.” [21:45]

Key Takeaways

• Resilience in the Face of Disaster: Leonard's story exemplifies the human capacity to endure and rebuild after catastrophic loss.

• Community and Support: The unexpected assistance from various individuals highlights the importance of community ties during crises.

• Humor as Coping Mechanism: Finding humor in tragic circumstances can provide psychological relief and aid in healing.

Notable Quotes

• “Chinatown in those days sounded like a war zone.” [04:45]
• “We were living great; we were part of the poverty elite.” [16:45]
• “That fire has cost me a fortune. Thank you.” [21:45]

Final Thoughts

Leonard Lopate's "The Rocket’s Red Glare" is a compelling narrative that combines elements of personal tragedy, cultural significance, and the indomitable human spirit. Through vivid storytelling and emotional depth, Lopate offers listeners a window into his life-changing experience, leaving a lasting impression of both loss and hope.

Transcript

[Dan Kennedy]

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[Leonard Lopate]

Welcome to the Moth Podcast. I'm Dan Kennedy. This is where you'll hear True stor on stage. This week's story by Leonard Lopate was recorded live at the moth in 2003. The theme of the night was blue in the face Stories about smoke.

I used to live in Chinatown. In fact, for 25 years, I lived in Chinatown. And I learned a few years after I moved in that I was very special. Because I was born in the year of the Dragon. And a few years later, I married a woman. No longer married to her, but I married her. She was born in the year of the Dragon. So we really thought things were going to be great. Chinese New Year. Chinatown in those days sounded like a war zone. The fireworks went on 24 hours a day. You'd wake up in the middle of the night. Because there was a lull in the fireworks. What's wrong? What's wrong? And we would do anything to escape. And we went to see this Brazilian film that was. I get to see a lot of films and screenings. Because I am a talk show host, as you may know. And they want me to talk to the makers of these films. Well, I saw this film called. I still remember it, Stairway to Heaven. I only remember it because it was one of the worst films I've ever seen in my life. And we came out of the subway, and Theresa said, Leonard, there are fire trucks in front of our house. And I said, canal Street. I mean, there are fire trucks on Canal street all the time. Could be any place. As we walked closer, we realized it was right in front of our house. And then when we got there and they wouldn't let us through. We noticed that our cat, Motley, was hanging over the arm of a fireman. This is a fireman Dave would have loved to have met. But I wasn't too pleased to see that she was totally inert. Like a stole. You know, that's what cats do when they're really scared. She'd been saved by a fireman who had climbed through our burning apartment. A burning loft, actually, on his hands and knees listening for her groans. And he had saved her. So, hey, listen. We were in more trouble than Motley was in. Everything was destroyed. We took her from the firemen, went upstairs. And the place was totally black. And the windows had all been broken out. And the door had been broken down. And it was really shocking to see everything destroyed. My wife was a painter turned sculptor. So there was a lot of art supplies there. And when there's a fire and there are Krylon cans, cans of that sort. They just go off like rockets. And they explode all over the place. And there were holes in the wall where these missiles actually. Probably as accurate as. As the Scuds that Saddam Hussein was threatening Us with. But it was really so terrible to see. And we couldn't leave the place because they had broken down the door. We had no lock on the door, so we had to find the few things that weren't totally destroyed. And luckily, the bed, which was sopping wet. Everything was sopping wet. The bed, which was sopping wet. We turned over the mattress. And on this damp mattress, we try to sleep in the midst of this terrible smell. Totally numbed by the experience. I mean, we were numbed for days. I went to work and Theresa stayed there and tried to organize a little bit because we couldn't leave the place until we finally had our door fixed. The next day, the insurance people came and they said, you screwed up. You know, immediately they said that. But luckily the fire inspectors came and they found a stick, this purple stick, which revealed that a rocket had been shot into our house. Chinese New Year's. It was one of those rockets. It had somehow gotten through a little crack in the window. Just one of those lucky things. And it had landed in the middle of drawings, and a fire had ensued. Well, we started trying to. Well, that was good anyway. At least we weren't going to be blamed for it. But we started looking around at the things that had survived. And there was a painting that she had sold, and we said, oh, thank God, that survived. Although we're not sure that the buyer will want it anymore because the color had changed totally as a result of the fire. We took it off the wall, and immediately all of the paint just fell to the ground. It had been held together, I guess, by electrolytic action. All of the canvas had been burned away in the back. I have a record collection, immense record collection. Every first track of every record was destroyed. I had lots of books, of course. Later a Buddhist came in and cleaned every one of those books as a kind of act of penance. And I will always be grateful to Buddhists for that, if nothing else, of the guilt, you know, we had very little clothing. All we had, really, was the clothing that we owned. But we looked through the closets, and some things did survive. It's interesting that cotton survives and wool survives, but synthetics don't. So I had this favorite coat and this wool coat. It looked perfectly fine until I picked it up. The lining fell out because the thread that kept the lining in place was synthetic thread. You know, it was polyester. So I don't think I ever had to say, I'm going to get new. So we had no money, but little by little, of course, we did get new things. Meanwhile, finally, there was a lock on the door. And we had been walking around with long faces for two days at this point. Went downstairs, and there on Canal street, near Kamman, if you know where that is, was a little old Chinese lady selling fireworks. Now, she is the same lady who sells you umbrellas when it rains. You know her, she says, umbrella, umbrella, umbrella. And I asked her, do you sell rockets? And she pulled out this rocket. I said, no, no, no, the big rockets. She looked around, she pulled out this big rocket, and she said, $7. $7. I said, do you realize that it was a rocket like that that was shot into my house that destroyed all. Everything we owned, destroyed my wife's art, all of her career, destroyed all of our furniture, destroyed everything we owned. It's ruined our lives. And she said, $5. Actually, that was a good thing because we found it funny. And that that made life a little easier. Well, anyway, we. I live a strange life. I'm in public radio, which means I get paid very little, but there are a lot of perks. And very soon, very rich people invited us to stay in their homes. In fact, we lived better than we could ever have lived at any other time. Meanwhile, I mean, during the day, Teresa would go into our place and she would shovel all of our belongings into garbage bags, which ended a few months later with a big dumpster in front of the house. All of our stuff wound up down there. But at night, could go to places like, I had done an interview with the star of Babette's Feast. And so I was invited to have Babette's Feast at Petrosian. Now, I had one suit, I had underwear that still smelled of fire. And I would walk into a room, and people would say, is there a fire? Is there a fire? So there I am at Babette's Feast, eating more foie gras than I could ever eat, more truffles, more caviar, Romanee Conte wine, knowing that I'm a homeless person. But I was staying in the home of a restaurant owner. And actually, she was kind of annoyed that I went out as much as I did, because part of her feeling of helping us through beyond giving us an apartment within her apartment, a wonderful place. She would bring home food from the restaurant every night. And we weren't there half the time. And she was all this food. She was bringing all this food home, and we weren't there. And she was very annoyed with us. But we wound up leaving her, not because of that other circumstances, and we wound up moving in with an incredible couple. He's a stockbroker, she's a shrink. That means big bucks. Just a few blocks away from here in Gramercy park, they had this triplex. And Jerry would come home. He'd say, lenny, want some wine? I'd say, sure. And he'd open up this incredible cob. You know, those things that you. I don't know if you get those magazines, like they say now, on sale, $500 off. Only $3,000 for this thing. And it keeps wines at different temperatures. Well, he. I know he was not going to pull out the Petrus. And they had a lot of that. Their refrigerator was filled with crystal. I mean, these people had it. Well, he'd say. He'd say, just a modest wine. He'd pull out an Amber Roni, which probably cost 60, 70 bucks in the store. And I could learn to like that. In fact, I was enjoying it a lot. I was going to work and coming home to this, and all I ever had to do that was rough was walk the dog. Teresa was going to our house and shoveling up all of her art career and everything else every day. She wasn't as happy as I was, but as far as I was concerned, we were part of the poverty elite. You know, we were. We were living great. And that ended finally when the house got put into shape. Painters were brought in. And this painter said, well, obviously, you don't want us to paint the ceiling because you've already painted it that beautiful black. He assumed that we were some kinds of hippies and we would paint our ceilings black. No, no, we want the paintings, the ceiling, painted black as well. The big problem is that it's hard to paint a house that's had a fire because mold develops. And the fireman had said to us. They said it to us a lot. Dish detergent and ammonia. Dish detergent and ammonia. And that's what you got. You got to wash the mold with dish detergent and ammonia. And if you're lucky, it will go away, but you can paint over that mold. And the next day, you have mold coming up again. More dish detergent and ammonia. Eventually, the place got into shape, and we were able to move back. Oh, by the way, our cat. I forgot to mention our cat. She had been shipped off to Brooklyn, to Park Slope, never happier in her life. She had a backyard. We came to visit. She didn't want to even recognize us. Well, there's a violin, so I have to finish the story. What happened was I was walking down the street in Gramercy park when we were living there and this woman came up to me and asked me if I would give her some money because she had been burned out of her place. And I just walked by and then about a minute later I realized, what an idiot. You know, God, There but for the grace of God go you find that woman. Well, I went searching around. I could not find her and I vowed at that point, despite what Mayor Koch was telling us, to give money to anybody who asked. That fire has cost me a fortune. Thank you.

Leonard Lopate has hosted the Leonard Lopate show for over 26 years. It is broadcast weekdays from noon to 2 on both WNYC AM and FM. Leonard has received three 3 James Beard Awards for Best Radio show on Food and three Associated Press Awards for Best General Interest Interview.

[Andy Borowitz]

Join the moth this Tuesday, June 28th for a free Moth Main Stage as part of Summer Stage at Central park in New York City. The evening will be hosted by Andy Borowitz and feature stories by Salman Ahmad, Jesse Klein, Bonnie Levison, Sherman OT Powell and Jerry Stahl. Doors open at Rumsey playing field at 6:30pm Stories begin at 7:30. We hope to see you there.

[Leonard Lopate]

The Moth is a nonprofit organization, so consider supporting our free podcast by going to our podcast contribution page or by becoming a moth [e-mail] Our podcast host.

[Dan Kennedy]

Dan Kennedy is the author of the book Rock An Office Power Ballad. Learn more at Rock on the Book.

[Leonard Lopate]

Thanks to all of you for listening and we hope you have a story worthy week. Podcast audio production by Paul Ruest at the Argo Studios in New York Podcast hosting by PRX Public Radio Exchange helping make public radio more [e-mail].