Driving through the old town of my youth is a little depressing. There's nothing left of the vibrant little one horse town, except a few bricks, vines, and a lot of graffiti.
The post office, general store, and the bank all moved to the new highway back in the early 1960s. Now the new highway is the old highway, and so it goes.
Most folks now don't see the value of older things. The cars must be faster, shinier, and more fuel efficient. The houses must have too many bedrooms, carpet that feels as if it needs to be mown, and wall-wide TV's.
And books. Who needs them? Most of the words have been written. Books are too slow by todays standards. What's in is communications that are as fast as the speed of light, which to me seems much faster than the speed of life. But so it goes.
I thought about these things today when Caillou and I went for a walk. I stopped to sit on the edge of our creative space. Caillou thought he heard a trespassing chipmunk behind the old steamer trunk and went to investigate, while I sat for a while thinking.
I didn't answer any burning questions, or solve any of the world's problems, but so it goes. It did feel good spending some time on a winter day with my dog.
The post office, general store, and the bank all moved to the new highway back in the early 1960s. Now the new highway is the old highway, and so it goes.
Most folks now don't see the value of older things. The cars must be faster, shinier, and more fuel efficient. The houses must have too many bedrooms, carpet that feels as if it needs to be mown, and wall-wide TV's.
And books. Who needs them? Most of the words have been written. Books are too slow by todays standards. What's in is communications that are as fast as the speed of light, which to me seems much faster than the speed of life. But so it goes.
I thought about these things today when Caillou and I went for a walk. I stopped to sit on the edge of our creative space. Caillou thought he heard a trespassing chipmunk behind the old steamer trunk and went to investigate, while I sat for a while thinking.
I didn't answer any burning questions, or solve any of the world's problems, but so it goes. It did feel good spending some time on a winter day with my dog.
What a beautiful picture and what memories that porch must hold. It is the mind of sweet things lost, seemingly not appreciated that conjours up such a deep post. Thanks. Now Imma thinking...
ReplyDeleteI think most new stuff is way better and cooler that the old stuff (electronics anyway) but it is sure nice to retreat back to older times every once and a while, and as you have proved, it can be done.
ReplyDeleteAhh yes, things change.. and old things live on in memory only. But that's not such a bad thing. How would you have captured and shared this beautiful photograph if not for the digital age..
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a still from "Lassie"!!
ReplyDeleteI have similar thoughts often. I also wonder if kids today would be better off without so much technology around them constantly. I don't see many kids playing outdoors anymore or sitting under a shade tree reading a book or any of the things I remember enjoying so much from my own childhood...like a neighborhood softball game or a SPUD game or chasing fireflies...kids today have no idea what they are missing!
ReplyDeleteOn a trip a few years ago I revisited the many little towns I lived in while growing up. Only one of the houses I lived in was still there. One of the schools was in the preliminary stages of being demolished and another is boarded up. One church was still there. A couple of towns I could not find anything that I recognized. But I have fond memories of each town so my mind's eye will have to satisfy me now.
ReplyDeleteMy little home town is so different and it seems that all the older family is gone. I looked in the mirror the other day and realized I was the older family member. How did that happen?
ReplyDeleteThere is something special about the old things from a more--for lack of a better word--elegant time. They don't make things like they used to.
ReplyDelete