Monday, April 4, 2011

what now?

one of the scarier moments of my urban existence is traversing a broken escalator. it's an irrational fear, i know, but i can't help fantasizing the mechanism waking up mid-stride. contrarily, i somehow can't resist taking a chance and choosing it over a safe, static staircase.

hiking has been on my mind lately. there is a healthy, inherent fear i hold while hiking. one misstep and i'm pinballing amongst trees and crags and snakes! but there is also a healthy, inherent confidence necessary for enjoying a good hike. knowing that each step made will be the right one; that thousands of sure feet have safely passed the path mine find.

i can recall being afraid of escalators as a kid. i was afraid of a lot of weird stuff then. i envisioned the escalator steps eating me. it's something about the grooves and how perfectly the steps fit together and flatten out and grow and move and then flatten out again. i feel a tinge of this fear whenever i climb a broken escalator. i try to keep my cool, but inside i'm reaching for mom's hand.

technology is scary sometimes.