I Remember You

When I walk from Shida to the campus of Taida, I must cross Roosevelt Rd, a wide avenue. I usually take one of the two underpasses that are between Keelung Rd and the main gate of Taida. There is also an elevated pass and some pedestrian crossings, but it is not really worth it to wait.

The first underpass is usually deserted —even if there were some girls sitting on the steps today—, barely decorated and recently painted again.

The other one, near the Gongguan night market is different. In fact, it has six exits from three arms that meet in the middle of the street, with fake decorative columns, posters about Taida or some map of the nearby streets. It is usually fairly crowded and with people selling different things: old books, flowers, necklaces or combs, etc. Many times, there is also an old man selling, well, I do not know what he is selling, but he has apparently been there for many years.

This afternoon when I walked down this pass, I heard a familiar music, though. I immediately recognized the accords of the Skid Row song, I Remember You. A young guy with looks half-way of punk and sleaze style and with his arms full of tattoos, was singing it. He had the guitar case open at his feet with some old records and similar things in it. His was, obviously, a personal cover of the song—it is not easy to sing it— but I did not mind. In a day full of nice songs, I walked back to my office humming the tune of that song I had not heard in such a long time, but I had always liked. And it got me thinking...