The BanAlbany Projects: An Albany Afternoon in the Life of Anna Swann

I was asked to envision myself as a character from one of my favorite movies—and then consider that character’s character and knowing them/me, talk about where I might go in the city of Albany to have fun or relax.

Anna Swann is one of my favorite movie characters, played by Gretchen Mol, Anna is the leading lady in the movie co-staring Jude Law, Music From Another Room. A stubborn, sometimes thick-headed and always closet romantic; she and I are eerily similar. Embodying her for the day would lead me to only one place…

I would spend my day in Albany’s Washington Park.

The setting reminds me of my home town and the times I spent with my older sister Nina, reading in the local park. Nina is blind, but even despite her ability to visually take in the beauty in nature and these types of settings she has taught me so much about one’s ability to see with closed eyes. The smells and sounds of this park are enough to bring me back to those summer days with my family. It is spring time, barely, but the sun makes its best effort to spread its rays across my pale skin and warm me. The flowers are just beginning to bud, a few over zealous ones have even opened into full bloom; I’m reminded of Nina’s ability to hear bees’ flying from flower to flower, and her fear of the tiny stinging bug that is instantly evoked with even the slightest notion of a buzz.

I find myself a place near the water, and spread out a small blanket I’ve packed with me. It’s a gorgeous spot and though I will sit here and read as though it is a chore, secretly, I will love every minute of my time here. My friends and family say that’s my biggest flaw; my inability to sit back and let fate happen. I like everything to seemingly have a purpose and rationality to it; secretly I love moments like this though.

I find myself watching the mother’s pushing their strollers along the paths nearby me. I am forced to remember the most embarrassing story of my life, the day I was born. Of course I don’t actually remember that day, but the story’s been retold so many times that it makes no difference. The story of how Danny, at the age of five, helped deliver me, and ultimately saved my life has been a family favorite for, well, twenty-five years.

Last summer, Jesus taught Nina how to ride a bike. Can you imagine; a blind girl riding a bike? She would love to ride along these paths; she’s never needed to see in order to enjoy what the world has to offer. Thinking about that now, I’ve realized just how big of a character she’s been in my life; she really is the supporting actress in my life.

This park is pleasantly perfect. It isn’t too crowded as I had thought it might be, and I find it amazing that while only a few feet behind me is busy Madison Ave., here where I sit, I feel a thousand miles removed from the city.

The Banalbany Projects: Is It A Bird? Superman? Nope, It’s A Playground Plane!

The Banalbany Projects: The Search For Nuts

Go to a public place in Albany where you can find trash or animals for at least 30 minutes. Adopt the perspective of an animal/piece of garbage and describe the location from its point of view. (It's kind of like the Sit Down Field Trip, but new you're writing as crumpled napkin, squirrel, etc.) Invent little back stories for your object animal if you would like.

Nuts.

I need nuts. Nuts. Nuts. Nuts. My friends think I’m crazy gathering nuts so early.

They say, “Oh, its almost going to be the summer, and we’re eating our winter selection. Why get nuts now.”
I say, “So I’ll have more nuts. And what if something happens to your nuts? Ever think of that? Huh? Huh? Huh?”

They tell me to calm down, but I already am scurrying away to gather more nuts. I dash across the parking lot, under cars, climbing over cars.

Wait did I say cars? Nuts! I’ll stay perfectly still right here. If I don’t move the car won’t hit me.

Okay, I’m alive. I run across the sidewalk, my hands and feet barely touching the ground. In a few short leaps I have hit the nice green grass. I think this place needs more of this stuff; it’s a lot nice to move on this than the streets and the sidewalks of this place.

Now to find a tree—wait did I hear something—let me look around to see. There’s all these tall people walking around, throwing things around and just laying around.

I have not time I need to find nuts! I climb the tree, climb it as high as I can. The best nuts are on top. At least I think so. I have no time to think! I need nuts! I look around for nuts. There are no nuts in this tree! I climbed all the way up here, and now there are no nuts. Nuts! No Nuts! Maybe the other ones were right about all this; I should calm down and come down from this tree.

No!

There are other trees on the green grass, and surely there must be nuts! If not nuts, at least there should be something these people throw around I can eat. Look, there’s a piece of bread.

One man’s garbage is one small animal’s snack. Well—that took at most three seconds to shove in my mouth. I need more food to eat with my lifestyle, with all the running and climbing I do everyday. Not just some food, I need nuts!

I also have reputation to uphold. I cannot go back to the guys with my tail between my legs. Maybe one of these houses have food. Oh, one of these tall people is walking towards me. I don’t speak their language, but I’ll try.

“I’m just gonna start looking through your garbage! I just need some food. I—”

Oh, they don’t seem to care. Alright, more food for me, I guess! I don’t think they wanted it anyway. Let me just climb up here. This can is kind of slippery. There we go, I’m in there! All this work has made me hungry. Wow, this is treasure trove! Although, I just realized I’m not sure how to get out of here—nuts! Eh, the food will keep me company… and look! Nuts!