Many of you may be aware that Servetus and I grew up in practically the same place…only a few miles apart as the crow flies in fact. As it turns out, we both participated in the same youth musical organization, our part-time high school jobs were only a few city blocks from each other – the probability that we crossed paths at the only Taco Bell in the area after work is pretty high – yet we never met, until Armitageworld that is. Life is funny that way…things happen that you never expect. One night this summer, when we had met for drinks at a local watering hole, Servetus remarked about the physical beauty of our home state. Both the bartender and I “pshawed” the notion, to which Servetus replied, “You only say that because you see it everyday.” Since that day, I’ve reflected several times on her words and realized that she was right, it is beautiful here…especially so right now as the season shifts from summer to autumn and the verdant green landscape transforms to a patchwork quilt of deep gold, burgundy, red and orange. All of the following images were shot within six city blocks of my house (my neighbors are right now wondering what my issue is…)
The park at the bottom of my street, trees just beginning to change colors
Just a peek at the river through the trees..
A view upriver… (I’m choosing to ignore the guy next to me blabbing on his bluetooth and harshing my nature vibe…)
Autumn landscaping abounds with hardy mums , cornstalks and pumpkins (before any horticulturists chime in, I know that’s a gourd, just play along will you?)
If the trees changing colors and hay bale dioramas weren’t evidence enough, this next image reflects a sure sign of the season in these parts:
first casualty of homecoming week…
Homecoming is a fall tradition in all of the local school districts marked by a week of celebration in the schools, especially the senior high school, culminating in a parade and football game on Friday evening. The idea is that alumni return to support their alma mater (see, I can work Latin in anywhere!) A time honored tradition of homecoming is “decorating” the trees of chosen houses with streamers of toilet paper. I suppose that this is technically considered vandalism, but I think the local police mostly look the other way (informal interview with confidential 16 year old informant reveals that as long as the perpetrators are not in possession of eggs, a blind eye is turned.) Our house was hit a few years ago…the decorators underestimated the size of the one tree in our yard…a roughly 50′ spruce…and did not know that my husband is a night owl – he interrupted them in the act, they fled and left us 6 months supply of toilet paper – score!
But I digress. The point I was getting around to, was that it is often the case that we miss beautiful things that are staring us right in the face. We are distracted by a million things from stopping to “smell the roses” from time to time. Beauty is all around us…whether it is a sweeping autumn landscape or the smile of a child, we just need to see it. I hope that wherever in the world Richard Armitage is today, he is able to enjoy a moment of beauty, big or small. I’m going to try harder to notice the beauty around me…I hope you will too Armitageworld.
Ancient Armitage 