Living in Manhattan in late 90's was an accelerating experience that i will never forget, the technology bubble created overnight millionaires, making NYC a very expensive place to live. At the time, the rent for one bedroom apartment in the West Village went for 2,400 US$ a month, and the streets were filled with the latest cars ridden by the hottest creatures.
That was the picture of a young inmmigrant from Venezuela, bedazzled by the glitter and fast life of the “Big Apple” and trying to make it happen in a tough environment for newcomers. Memories keep coming back of myself walking down Avenue of the Americas and having the latter WTC twin towers putting a smile on my face.
Besides, no date in New York was worth be called romantic without a sunrise snuggle on top of the Empire State building looking southward and contemplating the skyline of Lower Manhattan with the twin towers crowning the view. My best date ever!!!
By the end of summer of 2001 while living in Boston i decided to spend labor day weekend in Fire Island, unfortunately my companion and i lost the evening boat with no other choice but going out in Manhattan. The following day was the last time i had the opportunity to see the WTC towers standing up, no knowing the dreadful days to come.
September 11th, after being woke up by a roommate on a day off, screaming histerically around the apartment “we've been invaded”, we sat in front of the TV paralized with no words coming out of us and running around to get more coffee. Consternation set the tone, by the falling of the first building we were all chills and the uncertainty reigned.
My neighborhood was full of inmigrants mostly from distant places from Cambodia to Cape Verde, there were few people wondering around on the streets, but the ones out were dusting things off from their basement. Next morning all the houses were displaying american flags as a sign of patriotism and outrage against the terrorist attack.
The following day i went to work, at the subway suspicious eyes were searching for objects were to put their hatred upon, i did not blame them perhaps i would have done the same back home, but this time was affecting me. My persecutory paranoia took over me with my apparent resemble with people from the middle east and people staring.
A week later i flew to San Antonio for a trainning, i went through the airports like everyone else, of course the random theory of selecting people gets broken with me, because i am always chosen when it comes with the portable metal detector. Since then i've never felt frighten of being racialy profiled again, at least for now.
I write this lines to celebrate the wonderful city of New York and to remember the iconic majesty that used to represent the twin towers for every person who lived in the city that never sleeps.
No comments:
Post a Comment