Walking with Ambient: Music for Airports.

 I want to write in this blog more because I wish to write more in general. I keep track of when I walk along to ambient music on my rate your music. Normally the entries are only one sentence long, but I think this could be a good opportunity to write what is on my mind more. Here's the entry:

  5/8/25. I took a walk and listened to Brian Eno's Music for Airports. A friend reminded me that it's been a while since I had done this last. I wanted something under an hour- a lot of ambient stuff spills out to luxurious lengths, and I didn't wish to walk that long.

I started walking at sunset, going up and down a hill, down to a park, and then looped back on a different road back home.

Track 1/1:
This accompanied me up and down the hill. On the way up, my thoughts were scattered and fairly sparse. I thought about my game. Near the top of the hill, a teenager tore down the road. I micro-jumped in surprise. Finally at top of the hill, looking at all of the hills and houses, I started thinking about old friends and the photos I took of them. I watched birds fly to their homes in one tree. I heard a shrill birdcall through the music. I thought about my college days, and thought about getting hit by a car. My mind drifted to how I wanted to write in detail about all of these thoughts. Then I thought about why I editorialize all of my thoughts mere moments after having them, how doing this interrupts my natural flow. I don't allow myself to think things out because I cut everything short, like taking cookies out of the oven too early. I thought about how I would like a cat to cross my path.

Track 2/1:
This played on the way to the dog park. I saw deer cross my path. The sun was beginning to set more, the sky going from the yellow and oranges to a cool dim blue. I decided to detour to the park and extend my walk, since I was only halfway through the album. I thought about my game some more, some possible interactions with characters. I always think of my best thoughts while walking. This track wasn't as interesting as the first track, but I still liked it. I trawled through some thoughts that I cannot remember now.

Track 1/2:
Heard while returning from the dog park and looping back. This track was like the first two combined. I thought more about what I could write about. A big black dog in front of me turned around and sat on the ground. The man holding the leash had to wait there. I took my earbud out and he said the dog wanted to meet me. I said Hi to the dog and continued. I thought about writers and how they come up with stories and ideas. How do people write such pleasing stuff? I thought about the world I was looking and considered that this place could be beautiful. If I momentarily allow myself to forget everything outside my immediate cone of vision, it is. I don't love typing out my navel-gazing observations because considering them a second time usually ends with me thinking they are and I am ridiculous. More editorializing?

Track 2/2:
The soundtrack to the home stretch. It was dark out at this point- I thought the synth tones on this track were a good accompaniment. I thought about my walking speed. I walk pretty fast by default- Multiple times through this walk I had to remember to slow down in order to make the walk be around the length of the album. Thinking now, while typing this, I'm amazed by how little I remember of music sometimes. I can barely recall music when I watch a movie, and I can barely recall what the music on this walk was like. I suppose that's almost the point of ambient- It's like food for thought, a sound cue, water for a plant. It's something to fiddle with while you think. As I got near my street, the album ended. I walked up my street with my headphones out. I heard some neighbors talking in their driveway. I walked inside.