A Stroll Around the Neighborhood

On a weekend morning, as I grab my bike and step outside, I always wonder, ‘How far should I go today?’ 🚴‍♂️ It’s not about setting grand goals; I just need to make it back home. Somewhere along the way, I make a 180-degree turn and retrace my path. Even if I feel like going further, I often stop short. Sometimes, I stand there contemplating, ‘Should I go a bit more?’ But usually, I just shake it off and turn around, like a small plane with dwindling fuel or an astronaut facing the event horizon, instinctively changing course without regret.

Sometimes, I wonder, ‘What if there was nowhere to return to?’ What if I didn’t have to work tomorrow, no laundry to do at home, and no groceries to use up quickly? Could I just keep going without stopping? Following the road, taking breaks on benches by the road, visiting unfamiliar cafes, tasting new cuisines at restaurants I’ve never been to, and crashing at nearby lodgings when tired… But why is it so hard to say I’d do that easily?

In Yoon Jong-shin’s 11th album, there’s a track called ‘A Stroll Around the Neighborhood,’ sharing the album’s title. Though ‘Going to You’ was the famous hit, I loved this track. 🎶

The scent of the season drifts through the open window,
pushing me out of my cramped room.
Walking our old neighborhood after a long time,
Now I see, it’s filled with memories.

The lyrics tell the story of a protagonist, years after a heartbreak, walking the neighborhood reminiscing about her. I adore this kind of sentiment. The everyday scenes of the neighborhood blend with the seasons and memories of a girlfriend, crafting new layers of imagery. When those moments align perfectly, the neighborhood transforms, enveloped in overlapping memories, becoming a space different from yesterday. 🌌

The melody from memories floats to the sky,
The movie of our neighborhood’s sky today
Is about our breakup story from years ago.
The changing seasons gave me
This night, I’ll just walk around the neighborhood.

The gentle yet bright melody suggests the protagonist has overcome his pain. Yet, it’s not a memory to forget. To him, memories with her are precious, like the familiar sights of the neighborhood. 💫

The season brings you back again,
Suddenly, I’m walking that path from back then,
My steps carrying the rhythm,
Your voice echoes, melody from memories floating to the sky.

This morning, I pondered going a bit further. For a long ride, I carefully selected five songs, uploaded high-quality files to my DAP, and packed my wired earphones. I decided to charge forward to unknown places. As I pushed my earphones in and rode, Yoon Jong-shin’s ‘A Stroll Around the Neighborhood’ came on as the third track. Entering the Han River path, I turned my bike into the neighborhood alley with the song. It’s only polite to listen to ‘A Stroll Around the Neighborhood’ while biking through the neighborhood, as a nod to a high school senior who was a vocalist. Of course, he wouldn’t know me… 🤷‍♂️

As I cruised through the neighborhood alleys, I stopped by a familiar cafe and ordered a coffee. While the coffee machine warmed up, I listened to the owner’s fascinating Saturday night story. 🌞 The warm morning sunlight seemed to slow time down. Soon, I held my warm coffee, waved goodbye, and got back on my bike. Had I pedaled to unfamiliar places, I wouldn’t have heard such an interesting tale. I gently pedaled back into the familiar neighborhood alleys. 🚲