For this Experience, I decided to take a trip down memory lane: I visited the place where I grew up, Crown Heights, Brooklyn. It has been 14 years since I’ve been there and I really wanted to see how much the community has changed. The buildings remained the same but the people, atmosphere and even prices were different. I could go into a gentrification tangent here, but I’m digressing.
I decided to start at the apartment I grew up in. I sat outside on the steps and closed my eyes. As I was meditating I could hear footsteps pacing at different rates. Some fast clicks of heels some steady timbs moving forward, light sneakers jogging on the ground. I could hear my own nervous raspy breathing and the infrequent whisk of a car or even bus going by. With my eyes closed (and don’t try this at home kids) I started walking forward from Franklin Ave. It was a little spoopy but I could hear the frantic/frustrated steps of people trying to dodge me walking forward. I heard random side conversations and laughter, I heard the honking of cars from the block over. I could feel the flow of traffic and it felt weird. It felt like there was an ebb and flow to it, slow, steady, fast, steady, slow. All controlled by traffic lights and the decisions people make. When I opened my eyes I was a little surprise because what I heard was peaceful but what I saw didn’t quite match. It wasn’t as peaceful but it’s a step up from what I grew up from. I definitely enjoyed the walk I took, it felt nice.
