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?

A Misplaced Enjoyment...

Depending on what the weather is like when you are reading this blog, a picture taken on a rainy day might be a hard thing to which you can relate. In some ways puddles, like this one I found on a recent cloudy day, are such a nuisance, yet sometimes they provide a different view of the world. Most likely your perception of "the puddle" depends" on what's going on in your day!

This particular day I started out not really enjoying the vast amounts of water that seemed to be flowing down every street. After a few minutes of walking down the sidewalk the water started to soak my shoes and let's be honest, no one really enjoys wet shoes. When I mistakenly stepped off the curb into a big puddle - no, not the one pictured - the water attacked the cuffs of my pants and started to creep up my legs. Wet shoes are bad but I think wet pants are almost worse.

It's funny how once the bottom third of my body was wet I could not wait to get inside, which is usually not the case at all. (Normally, I love to be outside as much as possible even if it's drizzling a little.) I couldn't wait to be in out of the rain so I could dry off for a few minutes before venturing elsewhere later in the day. Unfortunately, I was not always so lucky. Some of the places I stepped into were so crowded that I was constantly bumped up against wet umbrellas or people's soaked rain coats!

Later in the day the clouds broke, the rain stopped falling, and my mood, along with other peoples' that I passed, had changed. It's amazing how once my every step was no longer in a puddle I was not as irritated. I was finally able to look at the lingering puddles and find some enjoyment. At one point I looked to my right, toward the street, and was amazed at what was staring back from alongside the curb: a perfectly clear reflection of the nearby building and tree, mixed in with a slight glimmer of the slowly appearing sunshine. I smiled to myself and thought, "This is the payoff for days of rain!".

When I turned back to look at the building it looked totally different than the reflection I had just captured with my camera.

Isn't is amazing how everything looks so different in a reflection?

Have you ever marveled at how much of the world seems to be reflected from a tiny two-feet long puddle?

Suddenly my "love" of puddles was rejuvenated. They always seem to provide unforgettable pictures, which illustrate the beauty of water: how light can be bounced around endlessly, the variety of views, and the vast expanse of the reflection. Sometimes when glancing at the reflection of a building or tree the object seems to go on forever...

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

...it's weighing down your pockets.

How many tip jars do you see on a regular basis: when picking up your morning coffee, choosing your lunch at the local deli or pizza shop, maybe at the barber shop or favorite salon; however, how many tip jars do you see like this one. When I was standing at a burger counter recently, I was amused at the sight of this bucket standing next to the register. Since the majority of workers at this restaurant were under the age of 25, and that age group is usually on the hunt for money, I figured one of them was responsible for the creativity. As I stood there chuckling I started thinking about how one little action, statement, joke, whatever could add so much to a "regular" day.

I love how bold this statement is while at the same time being a bit subtle. On the surface, crew members are trying to come off as funny or cute with the play on words. After a second I realized, most likely with a smirk, they're pretty much saying, "We're not picky, we'll take anything you don't want to carry away from our restaurant." Let's be honest, isn't that a common sentiment. How often do you put stuff out on the curb for garbage pick-up only to find one of your neighbors came and took it under the cover of darkness? Sometimes people are not picky. It seems these actions are not driven by greed, but rather a lack of concern for quality? In any case...back to the burger counter..."you don't like change filling up your pockets, don't worry, we'll take it off your hands."

I once had a friend who did not like pennies. She just didn't like carrying them in her wallet or purse, and they were more of a nuisance than anything else. One day as we were walking through a parking lot after exiting a store she started to go through the change in her hand and proceeded to drop the pennies on the ground; she couldn't be bothered with such small coins. If only there had been a tip jar at the food store!

I think this brief note is a living example of how, all around us, there are unique twists on everyday life - and you never know what impact that "twist" will have on someone else. One person may have sat down with a piece of paper and marker to create a tip jar but instead provided me with enjoyment and laughter that would go on for minutes...hours...eventually days. Who could anticipate me contemplating the label on a tip jar. Be on the lookout for such little oddities in your town; you never know how long the fun will last.

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

A Day on the River...

On my way into a restaurant one late afternoon I stopped to enjoy the view of the neighboring river and noticed a group of people kayaking upstream. For a second I almost wished I was out on the river with them, but then remembered that I was walking into one of my favorite restaurants and the kayak could wait! Plus, the view was too fantastic to not take a moment and gaze out over the water.

The whole atmosphere was completely peaceful. There was a light breeze that helped cool off the warm summer air and send the river flowing gently downstream. I was amazed at how green the riverbanks were, especially after all of the record temperatures most areas have experienced this summer. In spite of the heat, the water level also looked fairly high and I thought it was going to spill over the edge of the river overtaking all of the green grass. After a few minutes of gazing my attention turned back to the kayakers...

I started thinking how I would really like to kayak again! I ventured out on the water a couple of summers ago and had a great time. At the end of the season I vowed to go out again, yet as of today I have not gotten any closer to kayaking than walking past an empty boat at the sporting goods store. Unfortunately, the excitement got buried under work responsibilities and other commitments - or favorite restaurants. As I stood watching this small group, and then the other people who joined them a few minutes later, I was reinvigorated to pick up this new hobby! I started thinking about places I could rent a kayak, which friends I could enlist to join me, and how much all of this would cost. Then my thoughts went to the one snag...where would I find the time?

Has there ever been something you wanted to try but it kept getting pushed off because of lack of time?

What made you finally say, "I'm going to make this happen!", and did you eventually follow through?

I wish I could say the next day I made plans to try kayaking once again, but of course I couldn't find the time. I'm not worried though; it is only mid-August and I still have plenty of time before the waters "close" for winter. Now is your chance to resurrect that dream you had back in April, when you became infected with Spring Fever after all of the snow had melted and the grass slowly started turning green...the dream of trying something new this summer. If I can go kayaking you can do...well, whatever you have in mind!

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

Living History...

In the part of the country where I travel most often there is one frequent sight: old barns! When I first moved to the area I thought it was kind of cool, driving down the road and all of a sudden you see an old barn - and there never seems to be two that are alike. Years later, however, I have to admit that the novelty has worn off a bit and now when I pass one of these old "relics" my thought is, "Oh, just another old barn". The day I took this picture, though, things seemed a little different.

For some reason this particular barn seemed to stand out from the hundreds I have passed in recent years. Maybe because it was literally right along the side of the road and I was able to have a closer look. Then as I was taking this picture I realized: this barn was not in as bad a shape as some of the others I see. Some barns look as though they have not been used in years, while this one looked like it could have just been used earlier in the day. I was happy to see how this barn was kept up a little better than the others. I think part of the reason that most of these old buildings all blend together is becasue they are usually surrounded by trees and have caved-in roofs with broken doors. It's a little disappointing.

As I started to think about it I realized that a part of this area's history is just being left to crumble. Even if the barn was used by a simple farmer who grew a modest amount of crop, it is still a part of an industry that is changing by the day! Small, family farms seem to disappearing, and without barns and other structures standing in one piece any evidence of their existence is vanishing as well.

What happens in a few years when those half standing barns have completely fallen to the ground?

How will people know that at one point in our collective history families had to grown/raise their food in the backyard?

Now, I'm not suggesting we go out and save every free standing barn in the country, that would be next to impossible. What I am suggesting is that we start with a better appreciation for what we do have in our towns...instead of just passing by without a glance, stop for a second, and actually take a look at the living history still standing - whether it be a barn or some other structure. Once that happens, maybe the rest will fall into place...

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