Brief Flashback

I had remembered a smallish pension account that I tend to forget about and that I hadn't yet started, and it caused me to remember where part of that served time happened. 

Today, I wandered by the place .... the city offices that I used to frequent for 25-plus years.

Where for much of that time, I had keys and the code to get in at any hour and since I also had a fulltime job, I often showed up at weird hours where I was the only one in the building ....

.... well at least the only one on the third floor.

I wanted to feel the vibes and see if it looked different.

The concrete stairs felt the same. I used to bounce up and down those stairs ..... but not now.

The flashbacks commenced. But not for long.

The entrance looked the same other than appearing not to be an entrance any longer.

All the windows were papered over.

There were signs pointing two or three doors over.

Like no one wanted to help you. Not exactly welcoming.

It kind of looked like the services that we used to offer the community, had been totally deleted.

I'm aware that a few had been but it looks like the entire department is gone.

I didn't expect to see anyone that I knew since it's been at least seventeen years since I last set foot in there. But I saw no one at all. Is this a Sunday? A holiday? "Nooooo"  

Though it did feel like I had just left from my previous visit all those years ago.

I recall being in that office when the news of the start of Desert Storm came in and worrying that it was the beginning of the end of the world.

I read this morning that the city hall facility is going to be renovated beginning next summer to be more ready in case of earthquake ..... but it kinda appears that they are preparing to start tomorrow.

Even the atrium below looked barren and cold. 

That was always the look and vibe of the place since it' always appeared to have been carved out from a monster block of concrete but today it looked and felt much amplified.

I had cautiously wandered up there kind of expecting to be asked if I had official city business and to end up being chased away .... but there was no one around to chase me off.

It was a part of my world for a lot of years that few people ever ask me about.

I thought we did great things for the community and specifically for kids.

I genuinely felt the rewards back then.

Today I wanted to relive a little of that experience but walked away disappointed.