Walk
Posted in Uncategorized on October 11th, 2012http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBQxG0Z72qM
Hi!
I don’t think I have ever just gone on a walk, a stroll, a promenade, went out for some fresh air, whatever
I’ll start my walk off at the little “foyer” I guess of Anderson if you’re coming in on the Price St. entrance (or is it Henry? Where the bus drops off, you know what I’m talking about). It’s the room that holds the bathrooms, vending machines, and security guard desk. Have you ever been hit in the face with a horrible odor walking into that room? I would describe it as if the set of Mad Men was located right next to the Lollapalooza porta potty area: Cigarettes- but they’re herbal cigarettes so it kind of smells like pot- mixed with, well, a non flushable toilet.
Just makes you want an Altoid or a shower reading it, right? Well it did for me, anyways.
I noticed that there was not a security guard present which didn’t make me worried but I have kind of gotten used to seeing them everywhere. Especially the male security guard who is kind of short and he holds the door usually and tells you in a really happy tone “have a good one,” when you’re leaving. Even when I’m not paying attention and mumble a quick “thank you,” I always leave with a little pick me up. Where’d you go security guard?! So even though I get flustered when a security guard stops me on my way in a building and I block the flow because of digging through my purse trying to find my ID and then it turns out it was in my hand the whole time, I still appreciate them. OR ON THE BUS. DEAR LORD DO I GET DIRTY LOOKS WHEN I HAVE TO GET MY I.D. OUT ON THE STEPS. SORRY. #FRESHMAN.
All right, so I’m outside. Bye Anderson. Yes! Finally! Fall weather! It’s overcast, or what I like to call Pride & Prejudice weather. This weather only makes me miss home more, the cold and flat Midwest! But seriously, I love palm trees. Anyways, I have my notebook, sharpie (which by the way has become a new obsession of mine, I don’t really know why, I don’t draw), and wallet, which I really didn’t need. Humans have weird habits. I hold my notebook sort of how I hold cats- with a tighter grasp on the top- I’m really bad at holding cats. In fact, I dropped my notebook twice because it slipped out of my hands- don’t worry I have never dropped a cat- they manage their own way out of my arms! Holding my notebook like so makes me feel like that awkward high school freshman walking down the hallway on the first day of high school in every high school movie ever. I feel hunched over and I suddenly become that character making me feel insecure and ridiculous. I never should have quit ballet in 4th grade because I have horrible posture.
Back to absorbing the Savannah nature! I get to the gate entrance and slow down…left or right? Or walk straight ahead and run into a house? I turn left because I have always wanted to be a lefty (you guys just fascinate me!), so I am trying to become ambidextrous by just doing things to the left (I don’t get it either).
I turn around, sort of like a double take, to make sure I’m not missing anything or to see if I’ve made the wrong decision. Some of you guys went to the right…I’ll never know what I missed that day or what I could’ve seen. Turning left made the outcome of the rest of the day, the rest of the week, really, different. I crossed Price or what is maybe Henry to walk around a residential area. The houses were very mixed, some looked lived in, and others looked like they would serve as a good set for a horror film. While walking aimlessly, a guy who looked like he worked in a surf shop like very Cali chill sesh type was walking a dog. I love dogs and miss mine sooo horribly so I am all over the Savannah doggies. The dog had gigantic ears and looked like a German Shepard. He had a long face like Jay Leno and his tail wagged to and fro. My hands were kind of full so I sort of stopped and mumbled something like “Hi, hi puppy!” and then looked at his owner. He did not seem like he was in a hurry but did not give that eye contact back at me like “ya pet my dog!” Does that ever happen to you? Where you make a stronger connection with the animal than the human? Hm. So I keep walking, thinking about whether or not I would live in a house like these (or let’s be honest, could I afford one?). On one of the porches there was a red sort of older beat up mountain looking bike and a really cute pearl white cruiser bike. And I wondered who lives there? Friends? Couple? Family? Strangers? Maybe they were stolen bikes? Bikes really do say a lot about a person. Mine is from junior high, a crappy Schwinn from target that’s falling apart, but I don’t want to get a new one because of the memories! Falling off of it, rides with my sister, attaching my dogs leashes to the handle and going for a ride with them and then they have none of it. I am not a hoarder but I think I still have wear my old gym shoes (I wash them) from junior high where I ran my fastest mile!
After the house street ends, there is a park. With a tree that seems like it never ends. They kind of look like humans with overgrown haircuts because they’re willowy but the trunks are so short. Ugh those would have been to have to climb as a kid here. Jealous! I climbed pine trees, ouch. So I’m thinking to myself what now? No one is here; I’m in a park by myself in the middle of the day. I sit down at the first park bench I see. And then I feel weird. I have never just sat at a park bench. People make parks, not the equipment or donated benches. Even though I’m surrounded by nature my environment feel lifeless. Granted, it’s a Monday afternoon, people are working, kids are in school, and it looks like it might rain- which it does. But as I’m sitting, jotting down notes, I am tempted to check my phone. I do. Nothing new. I feel so bad for being bored just sitting outdoors, relaxing. Not many people get the chance to just take a stroll! I’d rather take a stroll than sit in a dark lecture room staring at slides of caves and pictures of statues (no offense, Art History 100).
Ah! Squirrels, a lot of them. 6! They’re small in Savannah. Chicago has fatter fluffier squirrels. They dig in the woodchips and actually climb the playground equipment. It’s like Cirque Du Soleil for critters!
After enough of the live entertainment I notice a guy to my right walking with headphones. He crosses the street – without looking – and climbs a big staircase to what looks like either apartments or offices, but there are colorful pieces of paper. I wonder if it says ‘Eviction Notice’ or something! Soooo Law and Order. He sits for a few minutes on the steps and then leaves. He didn’t wait for anyone, and if he was I hope he wasn’t stood up :/
It sucks to be forgotten.
On my way back to Anderson I think about venturing out further, but I don’t.
I go back to the room, ask Professor Waldvogel a question, and then walk back outside.
I turn left again out of the gate, and left again. So now I’m in the parking lot. I am also wearing flip-flops and feel the sharp gravel under my feet. Another gate is on my left and, hello, another courtyard area! I pop a squat at a table, and once again, no one is really around me.
These were the pictures I took from my POV:
I don’t know who chose that blue color for that building, but it is not very pleasing. It’s kinda drab and reminds me of the moldy awning at my grandma’s house. Not pretty.
There is a loud hum coming from a motor, I assume a motorcycle or some jalopy. It goes on for what feels like an eternity. But I couldn’t see it, and now I wish I did. I am fascinated by people who ride motorcycles because they are usually such characters. Maybe it wasn’t even a motorcycle at all.
At one point in my observing I started singing Christmas music to myself because it was so nippy out. Then again, I listen to X-mas music year round. I love the crooners!
It begins to drizzle. Should I stay out here or should I go in? I feel like I’m missing something. Or like maybe I did not get enough out of my walk. Then a guy, probably a student, walking on the sidewalk passes where I am sitting. He is smoking a short cigarette with a bandaged hand. And I didn’t see anything else in his other hand. I thought that was kind of ironic.
The End.
