9/11 – A Decade Later

Its hard to believe its been10 years since the horrific terrorists attacks that claimed so many innocent lives and changed the landscape of one of the greatest cities in the world forever. I remember that day quite well. The picturesque fall day aligned with the smell and sounds of the wounded, dying and the dead created an uncanny juxtaposition. It was unfathomable that anything of this magnitude could happen on American soil. President Bush recently gave an hour-long interview to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. Watching that interview I couldn’t help but wish that President Obama had been our leader at that fragile unsettling time. I remember Rudy Giuliani, the then Mayor of New York City, being a source of comfort and stoic presence for us stunned New Yorkers who couldn’t quite process the heart-wrenching events that were unfolding. But I don’t recall Bush ever conveying his need to assuage our fears apart from his overwhelming need to invade a country that had no connection to the attacks or Osama bin Laden. In the interview, he claims he was caught unawares by the attacks and couldn’t believe iAmericans were being threatened and killed. That declaration is hard to process considering the fact that he had been briefed on numerous occasions that same year that an attack like the one NYC experienced was pretty imminent. He is no doubt the worst President that ever was and ever will be.

But lets leap forward to the present. Its now 2011, and back in 2001, I did wonder how things will be 10 years later. Whether we will be able to survive the devastation and pick up the pieces and resume our position as one of the most exciting and cultivating cities in the country. I am glad to report that we are on track! New York Fashion Week is once again upon us and I recall what it was like right after the attacks. I walked past Bryant Park because I was stuck in the city due to the PATH trains not running and as I wondered aimlessly I ironically ended up right at the heart of where the shows were being staged. The tents were up, and there was a lot of activity. For that brief moment, there was a sense of normalcy that calmed me down after escaping a stampede of crazed New Yorkers who were trying to escape a city riddled with chaotic energy.

It may seem unnerving to bring up Fashion Week at a time when grieving families are once again publicly reminded of their loss. But we really needed our city back and we needed to prove that we could rise above the madness and continue our traditions and celebrations without the influence of a crazed criminal diluting out lifestyle. Osama bin Laden has paid the ultimate price for his actions under the regime of President Obama. It makes sense that Obama was able to bring this to a bittersweet conclusion 10 years later.

10 years later we are still holding on to the hope that someday we can walk outside our door and believe without a doubt that we will return in the same disposition we were in when we walked out.

May the memories of the victims of 9/11 forever be cherished and may those of us who lived to tell to tell the story make every second accounted for.