I chose to read Hellen Keller’s ‘I go Adventuring.’ I found this to be a moving short story of the appreciation Keller had for NYC, despite being deaf and blind. She explained that when she feels cut off or lonely, she asks to be brought to NYC to engage in the fast pace life that we all take for granted. There are vivid descriptions of a boat trip, of the experience of walking down Broadway when it is bustling and crowded. At one point Keller even refers to the people’s feet as ‘keeping time’ to the music of their hearts. I found this incredible that a deaf and blind woman could use a musical analogy. I think this is getting at aspects of what I had written about in my first essay; New York has a vibe to it that is hard to put your finger on, it is like a high frequency sound that is outside the range of normal hearing or sight.
The piece ends with Keller’s dizzying account of a subway rollicking by lightning like, causing Keller to tremble, perhaps in awe. I think in some weird way this piece made NYC seem awe-inspiring and larger than life; amazingly this was thru the lens of a blind and deaf woman.
I know most of us know who Helen Keller is, but I thought this short clip was interesting and moving.