Not A Soul

Thursday and Friday were my last days in Alphen aan den Rijn, the city I was born (well, technically not) and raised in, and spent every single day of my life up until I was 12. For years after I left, I used to be there every two weeks, being driven there by my mum, and my dad taking me back to Steenwijk by train mostly. It started to wear down at times, due to sports or such, and later due to work from either me or my sister.
The Public Transportation Card you receive when being a student made it a lot easier for me to head there on a friday and get back on a monday, straight to uni for example. Used to meet up with friends all the time, going out every single weekend I was there, to Querelle, 99% of the time.
The good old days in which they still had their Photoplay machine over there. Doing quizzes and memory games with the bunch of us. Never taking the blame yourself when it was Game Over.
These two days I spent meeting up with people with whom I've also been at Lowlands, so that was a bit odd, but fun nonetheless. Others had obligations that made it impossible to have a proper goodbye, but it's fine as it is. Can't go around announcing I'll still be there, the day before I arrive, and expect everyone to show.

After we went to get some fresh vegetables from this farmland just outside of town, I spent the afternoon at home, doing Wii Fit games in the living room, breaking records, learning new things, and just have a good time with my stepbrother. That evening my favorite dish there, was being made. Greek food from Jeannette. You'd think I'd get bored of the food in general, after eating it weekly at work, but that's far from true. Besides, this still tastes slightly different (and oh so good as well). Not that we used to eat that all the time, but I'll miss the chance to eat it if I would request it sometime.
Then went to visit the grandparents, and I drove. Got some new driving lessons from my dad on top of it, since I just couldn't get things straight! Hope it's solved a few future issues now then. Had some great photos taken this day overall, at the farm, at home, and at the grandparents' house. If I get those by mail, I'll share!
That night I went to the cinema to watch Get Smart. I enjoyed the movie, I must say. Jokes might not always have been the best to be found, and it also was far from a serious attempt at anything, but it kept me amused throughout.

On Friday I headed into town with my stepbrother, Tom, to try and find him a birthday present. After some complaining and begging decided to go for GTA IV after all, but once I held it in my arms he backed down saying it might be a waste since he's on the Wii way more than his Xbox 360. Ah well! Didn't manage to find something else in the meantime, so went for some food and drinks and headed back home for some more Wii entertainment. Found him a present after all, in the form of Wii points (after I somewhat made him purchase Mario Kart 64, woooh!). That night we ate pancakes as I wanted those. For some reason I always love them there, and never eat them here in Steenwijk. Don't ask.
That night I met up with another Lowlands friend who was, unlike (I think literally all) other moments, wearing high heels! Self-proclaimed hooker at the time, just kidding there of course, dragged me along to find some travel tags to attach to her suitcases for later, and after some more walking, we went for ice cream!
Parted ways at the train station, from where I walked back home (a minute away) to get my last goodbyes at home and take my dad to the train station for the last hug in a long time.

Was, apparently, on the last train that day in general, and from Amersfoort onwards, I had my very own private cabin, as, from the 34 seats there, none were taken except for my own. Reminded me of the last trains home I took from Leeuwarden when I'd meet up with someone there without staying over.
Had to change trains in Zwolle as they were cutting down on equipment (smaller trains are easier still) and got at the station at 23:45, after being called if I made everything and didn't get stuck somewhere along the road, with that last train thing.

Had already decided to walk home when I took a late train, as I didn't want people up and running and picking me up from the station. First minutes weren't much, but then I started thinking a lot, as I walked on. At 23:59, there was this streetlight flickering, going off for a few seconds, to then resume duty. I walked past the local cemetery at that same time, waiting for my watch to hit midnight. Ironically, the song on my mp3 player was The Appearance - Not A Soul. Quite fitting, realising that the only thing to be found on a cemetery like that, are bodies. Not a single soul is left there. I've wanted to sleep at a graveyard around midnight some time, but I figured I'd save that for another time. There's still a certain fascination in that for a reason.
Hit a roundabout and walked past a garden party. Lots of party tents gathered, people in suits, champagne glasses and the like. It seemed rather posh to me. About 30 meters from there, four young people are smoking, judging the orange dots lighting up every now and then. As I walk past the pond they're hanging around, I look up at a clouded moon, and a lot of bright stars and think of lines in a song I wrote a very long time ago. One of the first songs I've ever written with a melody attached to it instantly. It was so cheesy and such, but I kept singing it to myself.

Every night I'll write your name in the stars,
for at least a thousand times.

And as that's running through my head I see the first letter of your name up there. As I notice a few snails along the road, I keep thinking about what all happened. The photos I took today, and how much better I'd look with you around me. As I walk on, I keep looking into the few houses that still have lights on. One of them has a puppet in the middle of the room. One of these that you put in your front yard when you turn 50 (or turn Abraham, as we call it here, not sure if that's an international something). There's an old man sitting close to the window, and he sure looks old enough for that.
The house next to that, has a kung fu movie running. Another old, bald man is watching here.

As I skip a song on my mp3 player I feel my left foot going a little off, and I realise that I just stepped on a snail. There seriously are a lot of them out there tonight. A car comes my way and passes slowly. I walk by the house of a girl I used to adore to pieces, but haven't talked to in ages. I changed songs on my mp3 player once again, and get myself to Taking Back Sunday - What It Feels Like To Be A Ghost and instantly have to think about sleeping on a graveyard again.
As I turn right to enter my own little neighborhood, I hear the intro to The Classic Crime - Abracadavers. The song I've listened to most the last few days. The only song I've been playing with my phone, actually. Except for my self-made ringtone.
I get closer to the place I've first really called you, and I look up to see your initials written in the pitch black sky again. The Classic Crime is almost done playing, and after a 32 minute walk, I put my keys in the front door, twist, and open the door. As I walk upstairs I'm being welcomed by my mum. I try to get my computer connected to the internet, but it just won't work. Cables and such are checked and nothing seems out of place.
I quickly write down some keywords of this walk home, but as I am done writing this blog now, there's nothing I can't remember from last night.

I'm listening to Abracadavers yet again, here at home, and I have now decided to share two youtube videos with you.

The Appearance - Not A Soul


The Classic Crime - Abracadavers