“In order to listen we must stop, or at least slow down –
physically and psychologically. We need to try to be human beings, instead of
“human doings.” Writes Kendall Wrightson. For this assignment I took the
liberty to go to Grand Central Terminal known to be a commuter railroad
terminal located on 42nd street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan
in New York City.
I picked this location
because this is the nucleus of the city. The middle of everything, bringing
cohesiveness to a world that can sometimes be so apart. The air is thick with all the sounds
emanating from the walls. It has to be midday in the Big Apple. There are
tourists asking officers how they can get to their location while still
admiring the beauty in our city. During this sound walk I have come to realize
that this city has more beauty than what meets the eye. The hustle and bustle
of grand central terminal seems to never slow down. The clicks the clacks roam
around the marble floor. These people are in a hurry to get to where they need
to be. Those destinations aren’t going anywhere: they are stationary but the
time is the object that we lack. As the time elapses the people seem to speed
up. Moving around in the station I am in awe of the history that I haven’t
taken the time to appreciate in the past. This building has been here since
1903 and 112 years later; it is still here bringing every type of culture
together. As the day goes on everyone slows down, I hear the whispers shared
amongst lovers and I envy the love. I hear the kids yelling as they run through
the terminal now empty from its long day of traffic. As people purchased their
tickets I could hear the diverse types of beeps harmonizing all together as if
each machine is saying, “thank you, come again” repeatedly. I am here existing
in this very moment and I appreciate the sounds bouncing off the walls inviting
me to stay longer. The echoes never whisper hello and goodbye but whispers,
“see you soon.”
Evelyn Evans
