The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center had dominated and — to quite some extent — defined the skyline of Manhattan. The Twin Towers might not have been as aesthetically pleasing as the Chrysler Building or the Empire State Building, depending on whose opinions were sought, but they were an instantly recognizable and recognized landmark in New York City. Their sheer scale impressed me when I first visited the city.
While strange may not be the right or accurate description, 9/11 seems such a long time ago, yet simultaneously not so long ago. 25 years or a quarter of a century is a very long time, when measured in individual human lifespans. For instance, a period of 25 years represents the vast majority of my adult life. To those who were very young at the time, or born after 9/11, it must seem like ancient history. However, the consequences of what happened that day still shape our lives today. It was an event that changed many things, one of those dates that will be remembered and taught in history classes in the future. While I had no idea how things would turn out, and arguably we still do not know what the ripple effects of that day will be, it was apparent to everyone that things were going to change. It led to wars and the consequences of which still cast a shadow in many areas of the globe. There were more acts of terror. It had profound effects on individual and societal sense of safety and security.
I was in the university library in central London that day, and left for a late lunch. Walking to Tottenham Court Road, which was then lined by specialist and general retailers of electronic goods, I saw all those numerous boxy television sets tuned to the BBC News channel. I stood numb and bewildered as the towers collapsed. At that time, I had family members living in New York City, and it was impossible to contact them, as the phone lines went down. This was the age before smartphones and instant messaging, though mobile phones were quite common, and the preferred method of contact in these situations was the telephone call. It was only in the evening UK time that I managed to reach them and ascertain that they were safe.
When I visited New York City next in late December 2001 through to early January 2002, it felt like a different city: sombre at times, defiant at all times, and still coming to terms with what had happened. There were message boards seeking information about the missing and memorials to those who have lost their lives at a number of different locations.
In Ground Zero and nearby, the initial works to remove the debris were complete, and there was an eery emptiness in the middle of the city.
I have been to New York City a few times since then, though the most recent trip was back in October 2011. One World Trade Center was still under construction.
