Adventure

Behind every photograph there is a story. It is not a simple story. There is a complex plot and network of emotions, thoughts, and themes. Yet, the photograph is merely a snapshot of eternity. If there is so much to learn about in one quick moment in time, at one place, imagine how much there is to learn in the existence of the vast universe! It is precisely this idea that makes photographs truly beautiful. Photographs show us the importance, beauty, and complexity that exist in every moment in time. It is the appreciation of the moment captured by the photograph that is important. To illustrate, let me begin by sharing with you the special story behind my photograph:
It was a hot Sunday afternoon at the end of July. Angie, Miku, and I had just arrived ashore the Boston Harbor.
"Linda, how are you feeling?" asked Angie with concern.
"Oh, much better!" I replied, "I still feel a little sick, but at least I don't feel like puking anymore." My two friends and I had gone on a whale-watching trip with a small group of fellow Harvard Summer School students that morning. I had been anticipating the trip eagerly but now felt rather disappointed that I had not seen the bow-riding dolphins and breaching whales that I had expected. To top it off, I had gotten seasick.
"This trip really wasn't too fun," I said, voicing my opinion, "We only got to see the fins of the whales and their backs at the most!" Angie and Miku nodded in mutual agreement. For the next few minutes as we followed our group to the benches to check in with our proctors, I looked about, admiring the beauty of my surroundings. To one side I could see a few various boats scattered amongst a multitude of white sailboats resting on the stagnant harbor. If I peered closely enough, I could see bottles and plastic wrappers drifting idly in the murky, green seawater. I thought to myself, "How beautiful the ocean water looks at a distance, but how ugly and polluted it looks up close! How dare people throw their trash into the sea!" To my other side, I marveled at the tall, pretty skyscrapers etched against the horizon. Then, after peering closer, I noticed some worn-down, abandoned buildings. I thought to myself, "Those buildings look so ugly and gloomy. They don't match the other newer buildings! But, I am glad the buildings are still standing because they keep the history alive and bring variety into the scenery." I concluded to myself here, "Sometimes individual impurities contribute to the quality of the whole. But when? It depends."
As I looked about me, on many occasions,my eyes fell upon a closeby rectangular building that was adorned with colorful banners advertising marine animals of all sorts. The New England Aquarium. I had to go see it. Surely, this place would offer a greater variety of ocean life than I had seen on my whale-watching trip.
"Girls!" I exclaimed, "Let's go check out the aquarium since we are here anyways." Again, I was met with responses of mutual agreement. So we happily went to our proctor and asked for permission to stay behind.
"No."
"No?" we exclaimed in mild surprise. "But we are allowed to do whatever we want by ourselves anyways! How is this more dangerous than if we had decided on our own accord to go out to Boston harbor and see the aquarium?"
"I am sorry. That's the rule. We have to make sure everyone in the group gets back to Harvard safely. Now, once we get back there, it would fine for you to decide to come out here again."
For a moment, we three stood dejectedly thinking of ways to get by the rule. Then I came upon a thought and quickly inquired of the proctor, "Would it be ok if we went all the way back to Harvard Square T-station with the group and stay underground and take the T back? Technically, we would have reached Harvard safely with the group, and we would save $1.25 each if we don't have to reenter the T station and repay the fares."
"Oh yes, that would be fine," replied the proctor almost eagerly, as if he were afraid to disappoint us again.
"Is that fine with you girls?" I inquired. Angie complied immediately, but Miku seemed to hesitate as she mentally weighed her options. Finally she replied, "No, I have to study and it's not all that important for me to go."
"Oh! Well, do you still want to go through this with just us two, Angie?"
"Of course! I've wanted to check out the aquarium anyhow; today is as good a day as any other day to do it. Besides, I want to visit Quincy Market and eat at Legal Seafoods."
"Well, then, if that's the case, let's do this!" I ejaculated happily. Maybe we could make an adventure out of this day yet...
Thereupon, Angie, Miku, and I braced ourselves for the T ride ahead. To get to Harvard Square, we had to transfer from the Blue Line to the Green Line and finally to the Red Line. It would take a good half-hour to get to Harvard Square, and another half-hour to come back. Naturally, I was not too pleased with the complete waste of an hour we had to bear. "People these days!" I thought, "They're either thinking of dumb reasons to claim law suits on others or insensible precautions to avoid them."
Our group entered the T station and soon found our place alongside the ominous-looking railway tunnel. Again, I felt the urge to cross the yellow line and peer into the gaping tunnel. "What would I do if I accidentally fell down there at the exact moment that I saw the T in the distance rushing towards me at great speeds?" I wondered to myself, "Would I have a greater chance of survival if I attempted to make a quick dash into the small crevice to the side of the tracks, or would the better choice be to try climbing back up with the help of my friends pulling me?" As I concentrated on the tracks, I noticed a small mouse scurrying about. Then I saw another and then another. There were quite a few of them, and they blended in so well with the brown dirt and wooden tracks! "How do mice manage to survive down there?" I wondered, "Little enough to avoid being squashed maybe, but does not the heat kill them? Why, perhaps my chance of survival would be better if I chose to hide in the crevice until the T passed rather than race the T in climbing up-"
The distant roar of the oncoming T soon woke me from my thoughts. As the Blue Line came rushing forward and to a halting stop, I prepared myself to be among the first to enter and snatch a seat to alleviate the soreness in my heels. Fortunately, my play was executed well, and I sank gratefully into a hard, plastic seat. I sat back and rested myself as I watched the blur of the tunnel walls outside the viewing windows. At Government Center, I rose with my group to disembark the Blue Line and transfer onto the Green Line.
I was not so successful in procuring a seat on the Green Line, although I was among the first to enter the interior. Thus, I instinctively grabbed for a bar to hold on to. But behold! There were no vertical bars, only horizontal bars running along the top of the ceiling. This was a problem for me; I am very short. Nevertheless, I made a feeble attempt to grasp onto the bar and managed only to touch it with the tips of my longest fingers. I prepared to walk over to a wall to lean on, but at that moment, a tall, young man (and rather handsome, too) stood up and offered me his seat. I hesitated but then declined graciously. He insisted. I declined again, reassuring him that I needed only to walk over a few steps in order to reach a bar located helpfully on the side panels between the two compartments of the Green Line. I then thanked him for his kindly concern. I thought to myself, "What a gentleman! I think this is one of those small acts of kindness I won't forget for a long time." As I exited the Green Line at Park Street, I turned and gave the guy a smile of appreciation.
I walked leisurely off the Green Line but raced forward when I saw the remainder of the Harvard group hurrying to board the Red Line. Moments before the doors closed, I leaped into the crowded compartment. I ended up stepping on the bottom-most step of the doorway with my face stuck in someone's behind! I quickly attempted to change my position, and Angie, noticing my predicament, began to laugh hysterically. Miku and I soon joined in-it was rather funny. I managed to move myself into a slightly more comfortable position for the remainder of the ride. As the doors of the T compartment opened at Harvard Square, I bounded out into the openness. I was now officially out of the binds of the Harvard rules! I looked at Angie, and we both laughed again. We were through half of our T-station ordeal, and it had been rather interesting.
Angie began to dig about in her book bag. After a short moment, she was able to retrieve her digital camera from the jumble of accessories. "Let's take a picture!" Angie suggested, "So we can always remember our T-station adventure."
"So it was an adventure then?"
"It was."
We smiled in mutual agreement as the click of the camera captured the beauty of the moment forever.


Me and Angie just off the Red Line (the picture this passage is referring to)


Me and Angie on the T bringing us to the New England Aquarium before the whale watch


Me on the boat in the midst of the sea with a great poof of wind blowing my hair askew


Angie and Miku pose just before the whale watch. They should both be models. Look at those dazzling smiles!


Me and Miku just before the whale watch. I should not be a model. I am blinking when the camera is flashing. I would waste good film too often. Such a shame.


Me and Angie at the New England Aquarium. I wish there were dolphins. I would have jumped in and rode on one, ignoring the yells from the trainers. Actually, I wouldn't have but I could imagine that I would.