I Love New York
In
light of the catastrophic and haunting events that occurred in
New York and Washington DC on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the
September issue of Bonanzaradio.com is late and abbreviated. All
of us here at Bonanza extend our hearts, thoughts, tears, prayers,
sympathy and support to those most directly and dramatically affected
by this tragedy. We count ourselves extremely fortunate that all
the news on status and whereabouts of our loved ones in those
areas came back positive - and we continue to think about the
thousands around the world for whom that is not the case.
A
Chicago native, I lived in New York City for nine years - from
August of 1991 until June of 2000. I picked up and jumped off
that cliff right after graduating from college, to pursue my dream
of working in the music industry. New York is an intimidating
place, to be sure. But it's also inspiring - literally almost
anything is possible there, and it allowed me to achieve things
I couldn't have done anywhere else. It's an environment that drives
you to kick it's ass right back every day. Seemingly invincible,
it can also be remarkably human.
Manhattan
has skyscrapers, industry, theater, commerce, finance, architecture,
art, fashion, landmarks, history, the greatest array of cuisine,
views, politics, and a staggering display of transporation options.
But above all else, New York is about its people. Few caricatures
are more distinct and encapsulated than "The New Yawker."
But this tragedy has magnified all of the positive aspects of
that all-too-often negative stereotype. New Yorkers are driven,
passionate, go-getter people. They take no bullshit and rarely
rest on their laurels. Thank goodness.
I've
heard many staggering tales of people watching the twin towers
collapse first-hand, have seen photos taken by friends from rooftops
and streets. These have been closely followed by reports of volunteerism,
blood donation, harboring of evacuees in apartments, many many
thousands of citizens lining the streets simply to cheer on the
rescue workers...and above all else a respect for fellow man that
runs deeper than I think anyone could have ever anticipated.
I
know how shocked and saddened I feel about this from afar, and
cannot fathom the magnification of those emotions for the locals.
I don't think I'll truly digest the magnitude of the destruction
until I'm next in NYC and see first-hand the space where the
World Trade Center used to stand. I suspect that won't be soon.
One of the most gorgeous New York memories I have was the night
I watched the sunset over New Jersey and then a full moon rise
over Brooklyn from the Windows On The World bar atop the WTC...and
my brain aches at trying to understand that's all just gone.
I'm so unbelievably glad I went to New York, and am equally
glad that I left.
New
York is dirty, noisy, ugly, expensive, and can be physically
and emotionally battering. But there have been plenty of occasions
where I've also been stopped in my tracks at how beautiful,
unique, and just plain awesome it can also be. Those are the
views I now cling to - and hope desperately can be regained
by those at ground zero. Keeping those wonderful images in mind
would likely be impossible were I still there.
I've
always thought the Chicago skyline was one of the most dramatic
and lovely in the country. It is, even more so, now. It's so
strange to hear the silence of no planes in the air - O'Hare
is the country's busiest airport, after all. That quiet only
highlights the sounds of the sirens in the streets.
This
affects EVERYONE, somehow. Our sense of safety, freedom and
liberty has been violated. But our sense of justice, renewal,
and recovery have been emboldened. Do all you can in actions
and deeds to assist the efforts to get through this mess. But
please - above all else - do all you can to hang on to hope,
to be optimistic, to keep believing that America is a great
country, to know that we will overcome this grief and someday
these wounds will heal to some degree.
Reach
out, hug someone, bury a grudge, renew communication with someone
you've lost touch with but never stopped caring about, do something
you always vowed you'd get around to, re-evaluate, revel in new
perspective, live your life to the fullest and love it, carpe
diem. Keep on keepin' on....
