Paradise Found

Finally, the Fall was on it’s way to Manhattan.

September 11, 2001 was a beautiful morning. I was watching NBC News, and having a cup of coffee, preparing to get ready to go to an offsite meeting, so the morning was wonderful – no rushing, as the meeting started at 11:00 a.m.

As I watched the news, the reporter stated that a small plane hit the tower at the World Trade Center and they were not sure what was going on. How odd that a small plane would be flying that close to the Towers. I proceeded to the bathroom to take a shower and when I finished I started walking into the kitchen which was adjacent to the Dining/Living rooms and heard the horrific sounds of the news commentators talking about a huge plane smashing into the World Trade Center.

Stayed on the sofa for hours. We all know what transpired following.

I lived at 74 E. 79th Street on the high floor with my two little dachshunds, Violet and Roxanne (aka Biggie and Little). I had several large windows in the apartment that looked out over East 79th Street which is a main artery for cross town traffic. It was at a standstill. Cars, taxis and busses all stopped, many just left abandoned. A bus was right in front of my building and was empty. Doors opened, it sat there like a deserted ship.

My first though was to go out to the store and stock up on food, because I was sure some of my colleagues and friends who live outside of the city would need a place to stay. I went to the cash machine to get some money – I was not able to withdraw more than $100. I took the cash and headed over to Eli’s on 80th and Third which is one of the best gourmet food stores in NYC. On the way something surreal was happening. The doors of a church on Lexington Avenue swung open and a bride and groom came out, not aware of what was happening around them. Eli’s was very busy but still, most New Yorkers didn’t think anything really happened. That is until the owner, Eli Zabar stood up on top of the checkout counter to announce that the banks had shut down and therefore, no credit cards could be approved online. Instead, he said his people would let everyone buy their goods and the cashiers would simply use the old fashioned swipe machine on cards and they would be held until the banks opened again. Everyone in line became silent – the reality was setting in. I took my sandwiches, brownies, snacks, dips, etc. home and witnessed an amazing site: few cars were driving on Third or Lexington or Park or Madison, rather thousands of people were walking north, to the train station in Harlem, in order to get home. Grand Central was closing.

I got to the apartment and stored my goods and waited by the phone for calls from friends who needed a place to stay. Nobody called and nobody needed a place. And then phones shut down. You were only able to call within the 212 area code. I checked my internet connection. I had just purchased Roadrunner and left dial-up. It was working and I could email anyone I needed to even my family in Europe. Cell coverage was spotty but I did get in touch with my children. Land lines could be used to call in the 212 area code only.

By dusk the city was eerily empty. The bus I described at the beginning of my writing was still on the street in front of my building. Door opened and empty like a deserted ship.

That night fighter jets started to fly over the city. I had never encountered anything so scary. It sounded as though they were right on top of us! I didn’t sleep, rather watched the news all night long.

By the next morning, everything was shut down. Nobody could leave or come into the city. The tunnels and bridges were guarded by the military. Nobody was working, no stores or restaurants or any other kind of business were open. The Mayor was everywhere. And yes he did a great job of holding together those of us that were still in the city. He was relentless at keeping things going and was out and about 24 hours a day walking the streets and talking to anyone, everyone.

In New York, Labor Day is like New Year’s Day. The quiet summer comes to and end and over that weekend, and everything comes to life again! Kids return to school, New York has fashion week, the weather changes – the beginning of a new cycle, new time, new year. And here we were a week later, frozen with disbelief and grief.

The next day, I decided to take the pups over to their favorite place, the Conservatory Water at Central Park. Our plan was to watch the model sailboats while sitting on benches that surround the water. There was no one on the streets but I thought for sure people, children and pets would be in the park. I was wrong. Empty. As we approached the Conservatory Water, I could faintly hear a violin playing. As I got closer there was no one, not one single human, except for the violinist, at the pond. I sat down with the pups – and listened to Panis Angelicus being played across the water. Beautiful, solemn – could this atually be happening? We sat took it all in and returned home. So many people had left the city for safety, but there were those of us who would never leave……

Email was a lifeline to the outside and I was thankful for having Roadrunner. A few days later I received an email from the Metropolitan Opera. I had a subscription for the season They announced that they were selling tickets for the usual rehearsal (which is always the Saturday evening before the opening on the following Monday) for a special event instead of the rehearsal. This invitation was to subscribers only and all of the proceeds would go to the Twin Towers Fund. No artist, employee or worker would receive payment for their services for this performance. I quickly bought two tickets.

My dear friend Judy Daniel was in Arizona at Canyon Ranch and could not get back to New York because of the suspension of all air traffic in the US. It took days for her to return, but she did, finally, after many connections and delays. But she arrived in enough time to join me for the benefit at the Opera.

The city was so quiet – and so safe – that we decided to walk through the park to get to Lincoln Center. I never had walked through the park in at dusk or at night -it was the only time I did and without any fear. It was beautiful in the evening!

Remember, there was no one coming in or out of the city. Anyone who had tickets for this event lived or was staying in Manhattan. As we walked up to Lincoln Center there was a huge screen set up on the facade of the opera house. The Met was allowing people to view this production free by bringing folding chairs or blankets! We entered the building which is such a wonderful place with huge murals by Marc Chagall – “The Triumph of Music” and “The Sources of Music”.

We had terrific seats in the first balcony, third row center. It was a full house. The lights went up (the chandeliers move up to the ceiling as they dim so they do not block the view of the stage). The orchestra came up. The curtain opened and the entire corps with The Mayor (a huge opera fan) in the center, were on stage. They sang “God Bless America” and inthe second verse, asked everyone to join in. All of us stood and sang as loud as we could – tears rolled down our faces as we held hands. The applause following was unbelievable and went on for many minutes. The Mayor asked for everyone to sit and to enjoy the program which was outstanding. Placido Domingo, among other stars were performing a program of three segments of fully staged Verdi Operas – a performance that was created just for this night. At the end of the program everyone applauded along with a standing ovation. We waited for the curtain call to applaud again, however; the curtain opened and there was the entire corps again with The Mayor. Quiet. The orchestra began “American the Beautiful” and we needed no instruction – we all stood, held hands again and sang as loud as we could – and sobbed.

Judy and I walked home through the Park. A beautiful evening, in a little bubble, during a horrible time.

The Twin Towers Fund was created on 9/12 by The Mayor. By the time of the Met performance eleven days later, the Fund had raised $70 million. Two years later when the fund closed, it had dispersed $213 million a to the families of Police officers, Firefighters and other uniformed personnel that so bravely worked at the Twin Towers site.

This writing is not meant to be political by any means and intentionally did not review the many horrors of 9/11. It is to remember and celebrate New Yorkers – Manhattanites – for the community they created during that time. The Mayor encouraged us to go back out to restaurants, to display an America Flag in our windows and to take care of each other. All of that happened.

There are so many memories I have of that time. I just wanted to share what I consider incredible and unforgettable spirit and community.

Till next time….