Don't Rule Anything Out...

You may be wondering about the focal point of this picture. I assure you, the photo was taken far away on purpose. Although, in my effort to be discreet (sometimes I have to take a picture and run before being noticed) and capture the entire setting, I may have been a little too far away. Nevertheless, I wanted to capture this quaint, mobile-home community nestled along the edge of this forrest...a what..."mobile-home community" - better known as a trailer park!

I will admit, I always had a certain image of mobile homes and the people that lived in them, as do most Americans; but after passing this community my opinion changed. Look at this beautiful setting! Who wouldn't enjoy walking out the front door every morning to a peaceful neighborhood like this one? Even though I was only there for a few minutes I just got the feeling that the neighbors all got along and there wasn't anyone who played loud music or ran power tools at 7:30 on a Saturday morning!

When I thought "trailer park" I used to picture the old metal buildings with the plastic awning over the front door. The houses I captured in this picture were totally different. Many of them looked like "regular" homes built from the foundation up. They have landscaped yards, areas to park their cars, and sheds to keep their lawnmowers - just like any house in suburban America.

Pardon me if this all sounds like ignorance, but I have never passed a set of mobile homes where I said, "Huh, I could actually live here...". Chances are I still wouldn't because the house would be too small for me but at least my reluctance doesn't come from any longstanding stereotype. This community almost had the feeling of a vacation getaway: rolling green fields, quiet streets, birds chirping - what more could you want?

Isn't this the kind of neighborhood in which everyone wants to have a home and live out the American Dream?

When have you suddenly taken a second look and totally blasted away any preconceived notions about something?

Perhaps catching something in the spur of the moment does really give you an unbiased view.

That's the Golden Perspective...what's yours?

Did I Make a Wrong Turn...?

I'm back after a week off - a brief vacation of sorts to regroup and take a break from writing. I'm now back and ready to share with everyone what a street vendor was recently touting as the "bargain of the day": Bonsai trees. In some areas this is not an unusual site but the neighborhood I was driving through when I snapped this picture does not see bonsai trees on a regular basis. What was even more interesting - and helped catch my attention - was the fact that the wrack of trees was set-up in the parking lot of a gas station! Is it me or is anyone else surprised to see bonsai trees for sale next to the air pump and diesel tank?

I have to admit my first thought upon driving by the large display was The Karate Kid! Maybe not what you would expect, but I would suspect anyone who was under the age of 18 at any point during the '80s would think of Daniel Larusso when coming across one of these miniature trees. For most children that movie was their first encounter with these foreign trees. As I stood in front of this potted wonder (how often do they really have to be trimmed and how do they survive with so many of the roots sticking out of the dirt?) I was tempted to make an impulse buy. I was once again a child, looking through the excitement generated by my favorite movie, wanting to bring home this curious, foot-tall tree.

I was also amused by the abundance of American flags attached to the shelves...not to sound un-patriotic but I was really surprised. There are a number of displays and pieces of art that I would associate with bonsai trees but the American flag is not one of them. Usually, I just assume some type of Oriental art would be displayed with these, predominantly, Oriental trees. Perhaps this is the "Americanization of Bonsai trees". To some people that makes it a more appealing purchase while for others the tiny shrubbery may seem less exotic, thereby less appealing. I'm sure everyone knows someone who won't do or buy something once it is part of the "mainstream".

I should probably mention I did not buy a bonsai tree. After looking at the many choices I decided my money would probably be better spent elsewhere. Even though I arrived home empty-handed, I still gained amusement from discovering the "gas station bonsai stand" and reminiscing of "wax on, wax off".

That's the Golden Perspective...what's yours?

A Second Career...

Sometimes I think I should have been an architect. Well, probably not, but I am always intrigued by the industry and think I would have enjoyed the creative/design aspect. I always enjoy walking around cities, especially large, old cities looking at the buildings. I find it so interesting to see how each building is unique and the ways "styles" have changed over the years. Some buildings look dated after a decade or so while others, like the one pictured here, are timeless.

Unfortunately, there were several aspects of this building/complex which I was not able to capture due to the camera I was using. For instance, the main building is flanked by similar ones on each side, forming a plaza which at times is full of city-dwellers. Also, every step lights up in sequence, but I was only able to capture two (there is a time when all of the steps are lit at the same time and looks amazing!). I was unable to capture the size of the building. Since I was trying to get the symmetry of the plaza I had to stand in front, which doesn't allow the immensity of the building to be shown in any pictures.

Symmetry is one of the things I love about architecture. I love how when a person stands on the street looking towards the plaza everything seen fits nicely together and his/her eyes will naturally flow back to the main building. The steps light up from the street back, which carries on-lookers' eyes back to the fountain. Once at the fountain, the gaze is directed toward the arches of the main building, since they reach for the clouds in the same fashion as the water jumping out of the fountain. As I said, there are two buildings on the side, of which you are able to see just a little bit. These buildings help line the plaza but also guide attention back to the main building as well. Looking closely at the front of the building you can see how each panel of windows is identical allowing for a simple refined appearance that does not overpower its surroundings.

In the case of this building complex, the architecture reflects the building's use as well as define the neighborhood. The surrounding buildings, residents, and industry are as sophisticated as this low-lying, white "palace". One look at the crowds of people gathered is evidence of how inviting the plaza has become.

Some of you might know what this building is...any ideas?

What are some buildings you have stopped to admire over the years?

Are there any aspects of architecture that you find especially interesting?

Even though I thoroughly enjoy studying a building's appearance I think a job in architecture can wait. Besides, isn't there a lot math involved with architecture, which, as you can imagine by my chosen profession, is not one of my best subjects.

That's the Golden Perspective...what's yours?