In a complete flight of non-sequitur fancy, I decided to share this story.
There's an Air Museum in Dayton, Ohio. You may have heard of it. It's called the National Museum of the USAF (though I think it used to go by "The United States Air Force Museum.") It is there that the B-29 "Bockscar" resides. The first time I saw Bockscar, I touched it. I mean, how could I not? It was right there in front of me. How do you stand in front of a piece of History and not try to make contact? So I reached out and touched it. A tingling, buzzing sensation flowed up my arm to my elbow before I removed my hand. The feeling remained for a while - I don't know how long. I don't remember if I told anyone right away or not. But I didn't forget. The next time we went to the museum, years later, I saw Bockscar again. This time there were signs around the plane instructing museum-goers not to touch the plane. But we were just about the only people in the hangar (we were there for an Air Natl. Guard softball trip and the musem had been kept open after-hours just for us.) How could I not touch it again? So, full of skepticism, I did. It still tingled -- an undeniable buzzing, crawling sensation spreading up my arm. GuTTer MuNKi tried it. He felt it, too.
What's the explanation? Residual radiation? Incredibly bad karma? "A great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced…"?
Tell me your story.
22 comments:
I have visited there and seen Bockscar but never felt tempted to touch it. I may go back there in October so I'll try and report back. It certainly carries a weight of history.
I bet you touch paintings in museums too. Shame on you Tall Chick, shame on you.
Tell me if you do, TG. I'm interested to hear whether you feel it, too. I think another friend said he did, but I can't remember for sure.
Egan, I don't. I was VERY tempted to touch the Rodin sculptures, and the Van Gogh paintings at the DIA, because, let's face it, there's something about lumpy paintings that just screams, "TOUCH ME!!!!!!!!!" but, in spite of the fact that NOTHING prevents anyone there from leaning forward and licking any of those paintings, I was a very good girl and refrained. I will admit right now, though, that if I ever get a chance to touch Bockscar again, I'm going for it. I hope my arm doesn't get cancer.
Candace, I'm glad your honest about this. It is very tempting to want to feel the texture of those paintings. While in SF over the weekend we went to their modern art museum and I carefully placed my hands in my pockets. I know they want to feel canvas, but they must behave.
Well, at the DIA there are tons of guard to keep you honest, too. Well, no, there's no way they'd get to you in time. But they'd kick you out. Though one kid stuck gum on a painting a few months ago (not one of mine.) No great loss, though. It was one of those random splotch things so it didn't change the look at all.
But there is one sculpture that you get to touch. I dunno why you get to touch him - I mean why they singled him out - but it shows what happens over time. Pretty cool.
(scroll down to last pic in that post to see the sculpture)
I sometimes get a tingle when I touch myself.
Once, in a museum, I touched a mummy. Then an alarm went off. Who know red velvet ropes were so serious?
After not learning my lesson, I also leaned in to touch Hitler's car. Again, alarm.
I think museums are in some sort of collusion.
I've been to Hiroshima. I went to visit a, uh... really good friend there. There is definitely a 'feeling' when you go there. He's got some great shots on his website.
http://chrisfosterphotography.com/places4.html
His stuff is incredible.
Oh, and if you do ever get there, I highly recommend ice cold Asahi and oysters done up on the hibachi. Yum.
I figured you might find this article rather interesting. Pay attention to section titled "Solving Raccoon Problems". Thank me later.
I'd say it's 'a great disturbance in the force'
I don't touch, mostly because as a microbiologist, I know all the gunk on our hands that can eventually destroy precious history....still, I think we all feel that need to 'touch' history, to 'feel' that it's really real.
Pete, you are bad. I like that. }:-)
Jay, I never know when you are serious or not, but I might try to touch Hitler's car. ("Are you CRAZY?!?!? This is Hitler's car!!!!!" name that film)
Jai, I bet there is loads of karmic whatever there. Thanks for the site. I'm going to check it out when I get back this afternoon. Is is actually safe to eat anything there? Kinda scary.
Egan, that's not much of a creepy story since raccoons don't scare me. But yes, they do love our bird feeders. I think that's the firs reason we started giving them leftovers. For some reason, they leave my gardens alone. Prolly because their bellies are full.
Ldbug - Yeah, I'm usually really good about signs, but since there hadn't been a sign before and I got a chance to try again, I had to see if it was real or not. At least it's metal.
Asking you stop feeding raccoons is probably like asking you to stop burning shit, it just isn't going to happen. At least you're willing to listen.
Yes, I'm gonna have to ask you to take that matter up with Cheeto and her babies. :-)
But I would never burn shit. Imagine the smell. . . }:-)
Cheeto and I have already talked. She's tired of the food you leave for her. She says she's going to have to get back on the treadmill because she's become too lazy. Cheeto also states she's going to buy a handgun to protect her since she's lost her basic animal instincts. I checked her into counselling about two hours ago.
I'm surprised you didn't get yelled at like I did not long ago! I was at the National Archives building and we were looking at the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, etc.
I don't remember which document it was, but they were all encased in glass, and I was pointing to something to show my little boy and I touched the glass.
A very uptight guard that stands right over you immediately reprimanded me. I felt like a bad school kid or something, lol.
Btw, my husband travels to Dayton often for business (he works for a defense company and goes to a military base out there...I don't remember which one).
One of my favorite sweatshirts is a Dayton, Ohio one he brought me back from one of his trips. Now I'll think of you when I wear it!
Lies, Egan! Lies and made-up facts. Cheeto loves the easy life. In fact, she says she's thinking about moving indoors. And she seemed perfectly well-schooled in TaiCheety when trying to hog the Cheetos for herself and keep her babies away from them. "None of that fascist swill for you, dearies. Let Mommy save you from yourselves." She's such an altruistic creature.
Blonde - I don't think anyone saw me. I'm not sure whether they would have yelled anyway. They seemed pretty laid back there.
That would be embarrassing - the whole Dec of Ind thing. Even the glass? I mean, come on -the glass?? Shades of "National Treasure" eh?
Could it be Wright-Patterson Air Force Base? That's where we were. Neat. :-)
Egan, how do you feel about bird feeders?
Candace, I just clicked on the link to your feet.
I can imagine the museum sign;
"Do not touch C's feet."
Birdfeeders are a tricky one Candace. I think birds are probably pretty good at finding their own food, but they have less options than a raccoon does especially during the cold winter months.
We had a bird feeder, but the local rat made himself too comfortable so I took it down and sold it at a garage sale. Plus pigeons love the spilled bird seed and I can do without those vile creatures.
Cheeto says she doesn't want to be pampered anymore.
LOL, Winters! That would be nice. Sadly the damage is self-inflicted - kicking others' elbows and all that, you know. :-/ I miraculously got through tonight's sparring without re-injuring my current gimpy foot. Huzzah for small wonders!!
Egan, it's a poser, innit?
No she doesn't. She says to fatten her up for hibernation time. }:->
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