Visual Memories

The pine-filled Adirondack region has a special place in my heart. For the past few years my family has rented a cabin in Loon Lake, New York. Last summer in mid-August, my family and I returned to our little cabin in the Adirondacks. The porch is a particularly special part of this cabin. From the porch, one is able to look over most of the lake which calmly sits between tree-covered, large mountains. I vividly remember reading every morning looking out over the lake. I remember feeling a strong sense of independence and power. Leaning back in the wide wooden chair, I began to read. The warm sun and coyote-like sound of the loons kept me awake. The view seems to give me a sense of supremacy and confidence. I always experience such an overwhelming feeling of hope, as if everything in the world was laid out for me.

The Soffest took place in a small apartment building on Guilford Avenue. As I entered the performance space, a woman tied a piece of braided yarn around my wrist, indicated that I had paid. There were splendid afghan rugs hanging on the walls, and intricate films being projected on blank walls. People were walking around with beautifully painted faces, and huge smiles. Everyone felt so comfortable. Once the semi-meditative music started, everything seemed to calm down. The glowing feather covered lanterns hanging behind the performer, added to his unique stage presence. I was surrounded by people I was only starting to understand. I was excited by both the prospect of new relationships, as well as the entire atmosphere of the show. I felt as if I had been let in on a tiny secret in Baltimore. I was finally becoming part of a tight-knit community hidden away in this rather large city.

While I’m definitely an appreciator of nature, sometimes there is nothing more beautiful than a cityscape. One of my favorite places to do this is the roof of the Hexagon in Baltimore. The climb up to the roof is always quite an adventure. It entails some shaky ladders, and some extremely narrow stairs. However, the gritty view of North Avenue is well worth the climb. The first time I ascended those grimy stairs, it was lightly drizzling. I ventured up with a then stranger who originally suggested that we go to the roof. As I sat down, I noticed that the roof was covered with a thin layer of dirt, but I did not care. The warm lights shining down on the streets seemed to give the whole city a warm and cozy glow. The air was filled with this exciting new energy. We then stood as close to the edge of the building as we possibly could. The stranger and I talked about many things, but the conversation always seemed to lead back to our love for Baltimore, and our shared appreciation for the view of our beloved city.