For most of my New York life, the Twin Towers have served
as thermometer, barometer and more -- a compass that helped me
gain bearings; a sundial that helped me tell time.
But of course, on 9.11 the skyline changed for all time.
And the loss of our tallest buildings was the least of it.
And yet, in the aftermath of unimaginable devastation, fear
and grief and in the face of incalculable loss, I also saw
unprecedented beauty, strength and solidarity.
I saw people of all ages, races and persuasions united as
one, with all pretense dropped and emotions unmasked.
I saw a struggling family from the Bronx spend much of
their meager savings on aspirin, and make more than a
four-hour trip to deliver it.
I saw so many doing what they could -- donating blood,
making sandwiches, serving food, buying and donating needed
supplies (everything from masks, goggles, gloves and shovels
to sheets, towels, work boots and saline solution).
I saw them line the highways with flags and signs of appreciation
-- cheering on rescue workers and endless convoys of trucks.
I saw those who had lost loved ones in search -- handing
out fliers, squeezing hands, not losing hope. I saw walls of
those fliers throughout the city, with titles like
"Missing Mother," "Beloved Son," and
"Lost Loved One, Last Seen…" More often than not,
the people in these pictures were not alone. Arms embraced
them. They embraced others. Smiling faces beamed forth.
Incredibly intimate moments -- from marriage ceremonies and
birthday parties to beach vacations -- were shared.
I feared, felt, wept, hoped and prayed as never before, and
I was not alone.
Renditions of "Amazing Grace," "God Bless
America," and "You are My Sunshine"
("please don’t take my sunshine away…") rippled
through the city. People prayed into their cell phones…almost
always closing with a whispered and hoarse, "I love
you" to those on the other end. A marching band
from Alabama brought shovels and flags, took song requests and
dispensed hugs. Gospel choirs, Tibetan chants and wailing
sirens shared eerie but reverent airspace. In memorials
and vigils that sprung up around the city, candles were
lit, banners were hung, and there was no such thing as
strangers….
At Chelsea Piers -- where a strong group of grassroots
volunteers fed, clothed, housed and offered up everything from
eyewashes to massages for exhausted rescue workers -- hot
meals, clean clothes, cots and counseling were available, and
over 600 hotel rooms had been donated for those in need of
sleep.
These heroes -- who rushed into the World Trade Center as
others rushed out, who were coming off of initial 24-hour
shifts and brought with them the smells of sweat and acrid
smoke, who threw off heavy boots and clothing to reveal
bruised bodies and bloody feet -- seemed only concerned with
whether they had done enough and when they could return to
work. They were awe-inspiring with their blend of
vulnerability, strength and determination. While we washed and
dried their uniforms, they told tales of massive destruction
and death. Yet they served as the embodiment of humanity and
hope.
One firefighter, who had worked a solid 48 hours, admitted
that he could only now sleep: He had been one of the lucky
ones who had pulled a survivor from the rubble. And no sooner
had he been escorted to a nearby hotel for much-needed rest
than he was back on the job, wanting to do what could be done.
I saw companies doing what only companies can -- donating
equipment (trucks, cranes, computers, supplies), manpower and
money on a large scale. My neighboring construction site
ceased operations, flew a flag at half-mast on its crane, and
dispensed workers and supplies to Ground Zero. Restaurants
were converted to canteens for families, rescue workers and
the displaced, and provided enough food and drink not only to
feed armies, but also to sate ordinary folks filing slowly
past the missing-person fliers….
Perhaps as importantly as all I’ve seen and heard and
done, I FEEL more deeply than I can remember. I mourn what
many say is the end of innocence. My heart goes out to the
thousands who have lost loved ones, colleagues and friends;
and to the heroes who have worked so hard to find and save
them. I also pray in a deeper way. I hope….
In the midst of ineffable sadness and the greatest
peacetime tragedy to take place on our soil, I have been part
of an unprecedented coming together of civilian and military
personnel; rescue and construction workers; federal, state and
city employees; people of all sorts and stripes.
I feel privileged to be in a place and among people this
magnificent. And though I have loved and left New York before,
I would never desert her now.
I believe both in the experience of trauma workers, who say
we have not yet even begun to feel our deeper pain; and in the
promises made by Mayor Giuliani, who vows that we will come
back stronger -- culturally, psychologically and economically;
as individuals, as a community, as a country…and hopefully
as a world.
I am reminded of the strength and fragility of life; of
what matters most; of the power of people and love and of the
importance of common cause.
There is much we can do in the coming weeks and for the
longer haul.
I LOVE and THANK YOU all, and am pasting in a few links
that I hope can help.
Warmly and with thanks,
wendy@vergant.com
***What Can Be Done in
the Aftermath of 9.11***
For More Information: www.nyc.gov
is one of many sites that features comprehensive NYC Emergency
Information, as well a Hospital Patient Locator System, DNA
Collection Program for Relatives, Transportation and Schools
Information, Business Services, links to current news and news
organizations, and more.
To Donate Funds: Relief organizations report that,
after having received even more blood and volunteers than they
can currently handle, what they need most is cash donations to
fund special resources and personnel. To make a donation or
learn more about these organizations, please visit www.helping.org,
www.redcross.org or www.charitywave.com.
To Donate or Receive Office Space: www.Offices2Share.com
asks any companies with extra office space to donate it to
those companies that have been displaced from the WTC. Listing
fees will be donated to the September 11th Fund
operated by the United Way of New York City. www.venturereporter.net
links companies that have been displaced with the more than 40
Silicon Alley firms that can donate space. Firms in need, or
firms with space to offer (preferably wired and with desks,
chairs and phones), can e-mail jason.calacanis@venturereporter.net
or call 646.473.2201.
To Donate or Receive Technical Assistance: www.npowerny.org
maintains listings, and can be contacted at Information@NpowerNY.org,
212/677.9622.
To Donate Blood: While New York now has enough of a
stockpile to last 6 – 8 weeks, please check back with www.redcross.org
or visit the American Association of Blood Banks at www.aabb.org.
To Volunteer: Volunteering is something we hope you can
do now and throughout the year. For current and ongoing needs,
please visit www.idealist.org,
www.impactonline.org
and www.guidestar.org
To Discuss: America Online and most Internet Service
Providers, as well as many of the links previously listed,
have online chat rooms, discussion groups and message boards.
To Boost the Economy: It is recommended that all who
can hold and buy American Stocks at this time, with components
of the Dow Jones Average and the
Nasdaq Composite being especially recommended. For those who do not yet have
an account, www.frameastock.com/shares.html
allows you to purchase a single share of stock for as little
as $18.00 without having to open up any kind of trading
account.
To Keep Vigils: Create and post your own, and/or check
out others at the soon-to-be launched website www.onlinevigils.org.
To See Pictures: Here is a slide
show on the destruction of the Twins Towers and the Pentagon.
Re: Retaliation: "A View from Afghanistan"
is one of the most compelling pieces I've yet read.
Please feel free to circulate widely, and to weigh
in with where/how you stand on war and peace.
In Your Lives: Today is a great day to do and say what
matters most…to affirm life, to love, to laugh, to give,
pray and play.
Please let us know your thoughts, and what other links we
should add to our list.
Warmly and with thanks,
wendy@vergant.com
