There is a certain unique and strange delight about walking down an empty street alone. There is an off-focus light cast by the moon, and the streetlights are part of the spotlight apparatus on a bare stage set up for you to walk through. You get a feeling of being listened to, so you talk aloud, softly, to see how it sounds. ~Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals
A few weeks ago, I had to pick up my daughter who was taking the bus from New York City. It was 10pm, and I was meeting her at the bus stop on her college campus. Traffic held her up considerably, so I found myself alone in the dark, in extreme heat, with some time to spare...the campus Starbucks immediately adjacent to the bus stop was closed up tight, which threw off my plans to wait there. I decided to walk across campus to the "hub" where I could sit in the cool air conditioning of the food court. I set off across campus and was immediately struck by one thing: I was completely and utterly alone in this dorm section of campus. It was eerie...I couldn't believe there wasn't one single person in sight as far as my eye could see. I had assumed the campus would be bustling...it was a ghost town. The silence was deafening...it was both creepy and amazing at the same time.
As I walked down the long path by the dorms, I was literally talking out loud to myself to break up the uncanny silence. And yes, it was silly stuff like, "This is so weird...there's no one here. I can't believe no one else is around...what is going on." (lol) The thick heat and humidity felt suffocating, and only added to the "twilight zone" feel. I did stop to take this one photo with my iphone. I called my husband and had him talk with me as I finished my walk, and was relieved to finally see a few people as I reached the center of campus.
What an odd experience that was, especially when living in a suburban area where I'm normally surrounded by thousands of people everywhere I go! When I stumbled upon the quote above a couple of days later, I thought it described my experience perfectly. My iphone image isn't pretty, by any means, but it captures the mood of my experience really well, I think. Have you ever found yourself unexpectedly alone in an otherwise crowded place? Wasn't it surreal?
Glad you were ok there. That can be a bit creepy, but I see you are always prepared with that camera, and you got a good shot. Like that sylvia plath quote! Her journals are interesting. Have a great day Sherri!
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny about calling your husband. My daughter always does that when she is by herself and walking across campus.
ReplyDeleteI know that feeling! Great picture of the eary darkness!
ReplyDeleteLove the shot you got during your time alone!
ReplyDeleteI think I would have been a bit frightened given what you described. But I commend you for having your camera in hand and making use of it!
ReplyDeleteI would have been a bit scared and mesmerized. I think when you got to the stop there was a certain feeling of victory... It is a great shot indeed, looks like out of a movie.
ReplyDeleteI'm just glad to know I'm not the only one who talks to myself! :)
ReplyDeleteI laughed at your talking aloud to yourself :) Sometimes if I'm at home and I think there's a burglar in the house, I'll pretend to talk to someone else thinking, "Well if they hear me talking to someone, they'll think there are other people there and it will scare them away."
ReplyDeleteI know there have been a few instances where I've been in one city or another walking down a crowded street at night, then turn off onto a side street and suddenly there is absolutely no one. It is kind of eerie.
Yes, weird. mile and miles of lights, no body home. And talking to yourself, does help with the silence. Lessens the "creepy" factor.
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