This morning started off like any other morning. I got up, cleaned myself up for the day, checked the weather, got myself dressed, grabbed my bag and headed out the door. As with each day I leave, I listen to music on my iPod while I make my 20 minute trek to campus.
Standing in front of the elevator doors at the complex where I live I powered up my iPod and then began to select the CD that I would listen to on my way to work. It was no longer than the time it was to select the album and put it back in my bag that it had turned off. So, I checked to see if I bumped it off by accident when I was putting it away. When I tried to turn it back on, the only thing that showed up on the screen was a battery indicator that was telling me that I was out of power and that it would be a silent morning.
Great. No music and I had no choice to go back up to get the power cable to charge it while I was at work. I was going to be late if I went back up (I usually show up like 30 seconds before I open), so that was not a choice. Instead I put my headphones back in my pocket and walked to work listening to the hustle and commotion of everyday traffic on the University Bridge.
I am conscious that those sounds I heard today exist, but I prefer to enter into my own little world and just go about my own business for this 20 minute walk. Today, that was not the case. Everywhere I walked it seemed to take longer, the day just seemed to drag on and I attribute it to the lack of music in my day.
Rarely there is a moment when it is quiet in my place and I prefer background sounds as opposed to complete silence. So, now I am sitting here at work and wondering if it will seem like the 20 minutes it takes me to walk home will last longer that I think it actually does.