Ruminations From the Road Less Traveled

The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.

Henry Miller

While composition, lighting, and  color can draw one's attention to a photograph;  it is the story inside the photograph that holds it.  We enjoy photographs of a beautiful  sunrise, the colors of a fall day, the majesty of a mountain range; but  with nothing else to hold our interest we move on. But if the photo makes us think-- make us stop to glimpse back down the road we have traveled, present  new perspective,  remind us  of our humanity --then it truly becomes memorable.  So let us  take a few moments to look past the picture and see the story,  a different  perspective,  maybe a bit of humor, as we continue down the road less traveled..............................

Our Forgotten Past
King George, VA--Overgrown, unseen and forgotten. For most this is how we see our past. Yet there are stories here of a time and of the people who lived in it. Stories of their trials and triumphs; their mistakes and the lessons learned. Unfortunately, most believe that we have evolved beyond anything the past can teach us. What they fail to realize is that while technology, knowledge, and our quality of life has greatly improved our human frailties remain the same.
    

There is Always an Exception to the Rule
OK, not a lot of hidden meaning here. Heavily photo shopped--cropped, colored, contrasted, highlighted, sharpened, and dry brushed. Just liked the shot so sue me.........But wait.... now that I think (see above) about it I see that I have created art from art (note sign in window) from a mundane reality.   Boy that is deep and full of...................

"Street Numbers? Street Numbers? We Don't Need No Stikin Street Numbers....."
Coles Point, VA-- Who needs numbers when a name on a sign tacked to a tree will do. As folksy and quaint as this may look  it doesn't help your insurance adjuster (that be me) who has to drive around for about half an hour trying to locate you and not being able to reach you by phone for directions because you're outside enjoying the breeze coming off the river.

Epicenter--Puts Mineral on the Map
Mineral, VA--Being at the epicenter of an earthquake felt from Florida to Canada is one way to get noticed. On August 23rd at 1:51:04pm a 5.8 magnitude earthquake gave Mineral it's, "15 minutes of fame." Visiting the area a fews days later it looked like  the  town's new found fame had not gone to anyones' head.

Downtown Mineral. All the brinck buildings to the right sustained some damage requiring a lane closure. You can see workers on the white building to the right foreground.........

A bad day for chimney's. Here Mother Nature scored a Hat Trick taking out three chimney's on the same house.........

The top of the brick facade of this downtown building came down and other sections pulled away. This business will be closed for a while but..........................

.....adversity can and is overcome. The sign on the supports holding up the front wall of Main Street Plumbing announces, "Open for Business."

Yes We Can Learn from the Past..............
Rt. 20, Orange, VA--Russia, 1787, Grigory Potemkin, one of Catherine the Great's ministers, is alleged to have build fake villages along the Dnieper River to impress the Empress with the value of the newly conquered lands. Taking a lesson from this endeavor of the past the town of Orange has constructed their own, "Potemkin Village" (and I must say it has the village look) to mask and old junk yard on the way into town. The question to be asked is when the site is developed in the future will it look as nice as it does now?

You Know When Your Really in the Country When.........
Lost in Louisa County--Dogs in the country are more than just pets they are members of the family. A show of hands please....How many think a dog house built like the family mansion with a TV antena is going a bit too far?  Then again it could be a very small "man cave." Gives a whole new meaning to being in the doghouse. Have to say the pig weather vane on the water faucet is a nice touch.

A Perplexing Question?
Westmoreland County--So old cars and or trucks sitting in the front yard, some on blocks, is considered a good indicator that there are rednecks about.  So what does a bunch of old tractors in the front yard, with one on blocks, mean? I went on three search sites with: old tractors + front yard + on blocks + meaning, and got nowhere. Not even a Wikipedia entry! Could this be the question that stumps the internet?

A Different Perspective.............
Rt. 17, Caroline County--To most this is one of those idyllic country road scenes (Cue John Denver now). But let's take a closer look......at the deer crossing sign.  Note the bullet damage.....While I  had high apptitude scores in the areas of math and science during my scholastic career neither topic ever held much interest for me.  Hard to work either topic into a conversation at a cocktail party. So I will defer to all those who embrace the sciences (and therefore are not very interesting to talk to at cocktail parties) and ask whether or not a deer is smart enough to take the hint that this may not be the best place to cross the road? 

The End of the Road--A Previous Tantrum by Mother Nature
Falmouth, VA--This is the end of the old Rt. 1.   Beyond the trees is the Rappahannock River and at one time this road spanned the river. On the other side one would have seen fields in front of them as Rt. 1 went off to the left and continued through the heart of downtown Fredericksburg. Here is what the bridge looked like in its heyday in the 1930's.......

.........Then on April 26, 1937 the Rappahannock,  flowing 39.1 feet above its normal level, washed out a section of the bridge.........

It was repaired but because Rt. 1 was the only major north/south road on the east coast it was decided to build a stronger and higher bridge over the Rappahannock which was opened in 1943 and is still in use today. 

Thanks to former Mayor Bill Beck for allowing me access to his extensive Fredericksburg postcard collection.

Not Much of A Picture...........
We have all run across a picture like this one while going through family albums.  Looking at such an ordinary scene most would make a cursory effort to identify the individual then put it aside and search for the more interesting  scenes. For others looking at this photo they wonder why such a seemingly ordinary photo was taken? What is the story behind the picture?

Only a few moments before my  youngest, Joshua, shook my hand, gave his mother a final hug goodbye and  turned to walk back to his new home on the campus of James Madison University.  It marked the end of the beginning.

My role as a parent is coming to an end. At this moment  the realization comes that my relationship with my son  has forever changed.  I will no longer scold or become angry with him. I can only be disappointed.  I will no longer be happy for him. I will be proud of him. For he now controls his destiny and I am  a bystander.  Offering support and advise when asked but the final decisions will rests with him.

And as my son walked away I also have to admit being a bit envious. I remembered a similar moment in my life.  The feeling of apprehension and exhilaration as one steps off to create a life of their own.