September 12, 2001

[Christiern]

Perhaps I missed it, but I have not seen any current mention of that infamous day, nine years ago.

I was in my apartment that morning when a friend called and told me to turn on the TV. "Which channel?", I asked.

"Any of them," he replied.

He was right. Karl Knudsen (Storyville Records) was in town and staying with me. I called him into the living room and we watched, silently, as the second plane hit.

That was, of course, something I shall never forget, but what remains with me in even sharper focus and with greater emotional impact was the walk Karl and I took on the following day. We walked down Broadway and you could see the tragedy and shock in people's faces, and many were putting up photos of loved ones unaccounted for. That practice grew as the day moved on. I visited a friend in a hospital that afternoon and there must have been a few hundred photos posted at the entrance, each with a name, a heartrending plea, and contact number.

In all my years of living in New York, I had never before experienced such a bond. We are known for sometimes not even recognizing our next door neighbor, but on that day, we all knew each other and felt a common pain.

Look at us now, nine years later. What a shame it is that hate and intolerance moved to the surface and wiped away the positive vibes. What a shame that self-serving politicians are playing such a big role in fostering that hate.