Archive for November 24th, 2021

9/11 New York City rembered

November 24, 2021

Twenty years ago. I was working at the Essex hotel doing a press release, on what I don’t remember, the show never happened. Because of our location, W 57 between 7th ave and 6th avenues, being in the penthouse people would visit our location Saying a plane crashed into the World Center building then disappearing because one really couldn’t see anything from where we were.The staff came up and told the show was off and they were walking home because all traffic was limited and trains along with busses were at a standstill. I don’t remember who I worked with but there were only two of us so we started putting things away. It was just the two of us. We boxed the TV monitors then boxed the sound amplifiers and rolled everything into the center of the dance floor and took the elevators down to the ground floor and left the building.I lived a few blocks away so I went home. When I crossed 7th avenue I could see the smoke billowing into the sky. When I got home I turned on the TV news where I could see what happened or really what was going to happen.Having worked for CBS there were lots of tradies I sat through, like 12 hours of the Challenger blowing up, over and over. I think it was 12 hours before we went off the air.So the only living friend I had was my dog and her red ball. So we went to the park on 54th street and 12th avenue. Shadow loved chasing her ball. I always brought water for her in a foldable bowl which I carried in my pocket.A pair of F-something jets circled the island, NYC police boats crushed up and down the Hudson River and Apache Gunships flew overhead. I wondered who they were going to catch, the damage had already happened. The smell of burning flesh or garbage permeated the air I felt sorry for the poor souls affected. I hoped there were some survivors but looking down 12th avenue it didn’t look good.I knew NYC had changed maybe all of America or the world but here by my side was my faithful dog caring her ball in her mouth as we walked home. Yes, I could feel the pain of others but what could I do for them, then or now?So Shadow and I walked home-sharing our love between each other, what else is there? I remember Malcolm X’ saying “The Chicken’s have come home to roost. “So that’s my 2 cents

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