Deja-vu/Contradictions
By now I am more or less used to the feeling of cold. It never goes away, even in a warm room I get shivers as if my body doesn’t remember how to be warm and is constantly fighting against the cold. So I gave up wearing a coat. Most people in the street seem a lot better prepared for the autumn weather ahead.
My mind is in the constant state of this sensation of deja-vu and the false impression of even a slight familiarity with this place, feeling at home almost, mixed with that pleasant feeling of complete novelty.
Suddenly, I recognise something. In the windows of the first floor apartments I see clown figures in swings, facing the street. They look freaky. At least every third window has one of even more. I realise this was that street, one of the first and, it seemed then, longest streets I ever walked in this city. It is not surprising I didn’t recognise the surroundings straight away -covered in sleet and dirt like it was back in February, this was hardly a place to enjoy.
I remember the voice at exactly this crossing -‘If you want to go to the Jewish Museum, it’s that way’. The group carried on straight. Now, walking by myself, I recognise this large imposing building of red brick. I turn left -here I notice that I am constantly fighting against my temptation to get a take away coffee and dive into my comfort zone – I carry on walking.
03.09.2010
