I was watching a movie with my family the other night, John Wick Chapter Two, and had the pleasant sensation of seeing places I had recently visited flash across the screen.

Let me first say that my tastes in video are pretty eclectic; I like what I like often for a pretty obtuse reason, not because it is of a particular genre, or because of who the producer, director or main characters happen to be. In this case, however, I do like the work of Keanu Reeves, and the plot line was such that it didn’t require a whole lot of in-depth analysis. There was action, there was (dark) humour, and while there was a lot of gratuitous violence, it was so over-the-top that it lost the ability to shock very early in the movie.

What I like best, however, was towards the end when the scene shifted to New York’s Central Park, and in particular the area around Bethesda Fountain. Having spent a couple hours there a couple weeks ago as part of a Nat Geo photo workshop, the area was fresh in my mind and I could pick out places I had taken photos, stopped to sit and watch or just enjoy being a part of the background.

This wasn’t a unique circumstance for me, and I’m sure that many others enjoy similar occurrences in much the same way. it is nice to watch video or look at still of places we have heard of, but it is particularly nice when you can relive the experience of being there. I won’t get all existential or anything, but it is almost as if having physically been in a place, you have left a little of yourself behind, allowing you to never really have left in the first place.

Thoughts for a rainy Friday afternoon, doing the drudge work that pays the bills, but enjoying the ability to take a trip without ever leaving the farm!

Have a great weekend and create some memories!

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