Now THAT'S a morning glory. And crepe myrtle. Aren't they just pretty reaching up to that very blue sky?
I decided to walk to the north and east today instead of the west which is the direction I take when I'm doing the flat-out, sidewalk-all-the-way trip to the county line where I pass No Man Lord's house. I woke up feeling pretty good this morning and so I was in a fairly decent mood as I walked, even though I had to pass the Dollar General. Across the street from it, where there is sidewalk that goes up to the ancient convenience store and Subway, I noticed that the sidewalk was cracked all to hell.
I have walked every inch of that sidewalk many times and I doubt I've seen two cracks in the whole thing so I suppose that some of the heavy machinery used in the building of the FGDDG must have made some pretty wide turns and did that damage.
I have to say that they have landscaped the place fairly nicely for what it is.
I have to say that they have landscaped the place fairly nicely for what it is.
On our trip to North Carolina and back I saw hundreds of those store plagues that were far more hideous.
Just trying to look on the bright side here people.
Just trying to look on the bright side here people.
Here's another picture and some of you may recognize the giant Johnny Appleseed.
He's lost part of an arm, a hand, and the cup of coffee he used to hold but he still stands in front of what was once a truck stop. I mean, that thing was there over forty years ago back when I lived in Lloyd the first time and the truck stop was a booming business. My back-up plan for leaving my first husband was always getting a job there in the restaurant. Thank god things never got that bad.
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that Conch City truck is parked there now, selling seafood sandwiches and dinners. I tried them out when they first appeared a few years ago but haven't been back in a very long time. I suppose I should give them another visit. What you see behind all of that is a cement company. They've been there forever too but since the huge Amazon Fulfillment Center began to be built on this side of Tallahassee, they've expanded their business and run their trucks night and day.
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that Conch City truck is parked there now, selling seafood sandwiches and dinners. I tried them out when they first appeared a few years ago but haven't been back in a very long time. I suppose I should give them another visit. What you see behind all of that is a cement company. They've been there forever too but since the huge Amazon Fulfillment Center began to be built on this side of Tallahassee, they've expanded their business and run their trucks night and day.
Progress, right?
I went on around the corner to Main Street to take some pictures of the Fally Down house. Y'all- it's truly becoming one with the earth again.
That picture does not do justice to its collapsing.
This is the actual angle in which it is tilting now.
I wonder if Abraham, the widower who lives just a little ways down the road looks at it and sighs and thinks of the time that he and his wife lived there just after they were married so long ago or if it has just become part of the landscape to him like the pines and the oaks.
I came on home after I'd walked a few miles, so very hot and sweaty and did a few loads of laundry. Maurice joined me as I hung some of it on the line.
She has been a fairly civilized cat recently. Perhaps she heard rumors of our deep and serious frustration with her.
Okay. Here's the thing I did today that was most important: I went through my closet and culled. I culled deeply. This many hanger's worth.
There was more I could have/should have bagged up too but I am just in the first stages of truly trying to let things go. And when I say "things" I don't just mean material things. Things like the delusion that I will wake up and be able to fit into beautiful and beloved skirts and dresses. Things like the idea that a dress, a skirt, a shirt, a sweater represents a time, an experience better than the memories I have.
It's not easy. But I'm learning. I'm trying.
And that's that for this Friday. Of course there are clean, crisp sheets on the bed and I am drinking a martini. I have pizza dough risen and ready to be stretched and covered with vegetables and cheese and some ham and pineapple for the man I love who does love a Hawaiian pie.
Happy Friday, y'all.
Love...Ms. Moon
Do wise about the objects being hard to let go of. And saying goodbye to the idea you'll suddenly be the person you were back then, again. There's a lot of grieving in this process and it's good to do it a bit at a time, as you're able to. Maybe the cat senses you might be on a roll, saying goodbye, and wonders if that includes cats!
ReplyDeleteI think you are so right, Liz. I need to take my time with this. It is indeed a process. No need to be frantic about it.
DeleteAnd hmmm...wonder if you're right about Maurice!
I enjoyed all your pictures especially the first one, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deb! That sky is something, isn't it?
DeleteThat's some excellent culling. Rather like the Falling Down House.
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ReplyDeleteIs that fall-y down house Steve Reed's fall-y down house? Shameful admission: I planted an old wheel barrow full of Blue Heaven morning glories. I love them. They have worked their way up the handles of the wheel barrow. I have it set on a slant against the green house steps with a trellis behind it. My sister will be unhappy.
ReplyDeleteThat is the same house, Debby. Well, I think that's what you're talking about. Years ago Steve visited me here in Lloyd and he took a lot of pictures of that house. At that time, you could still go inside of it without risking sure death.
DeleteOh, I LOVE morning glories! I'm sure yours are beautiful.
That sidewalk certainly shows signs of vehicular damage. Please explain your animosity towards Dollar General - we don't have them here.
ReplyDeleteThe building is fast returning to nature. I find it sort of bittersweet that it's occupant is still alive and living nearby.
Maurice is a mighty fine cat. I am very partial to marmalade cats. The only colour I have never been owned by methinks.
I admire your commitment to letting go. It is a hard thing to do.
Hangers breed in my wardrobe - especially the cheap ones; never the nice expensive wooden ones.
Dollar General is a company that builds thousands and thousands of these stores in areas that do not have access to many retail outlets. Like Lloyd, where I live. We literally have a post office, a convenience store, a sandwich shop and a liquor store. That is it. And so, in a way, it's not a bad thing for people who don't have transportation to easily get to one of the two towns on either side of us. BUT, the stuff they sell is cheap and will mostly end up in a landfill. They sell some necessities which is good. The only food these particular ones sell is packaged and generally of poor quality and very unhealthy. Snacks. They understaff and under pay their employees. They are becoming a blight on our landscape. They do very little for the community but take whatever they can get from it.
DeleteI agree with you about that old house that's falling in. I've been watching it now for eighteen years. Its demise is slow but certain.
Maurice is sort of crazy. I believe she had a very difficult kittenhood.
Letting go IS hard. Especially for some of us. I don't really think of myself as someone who hangs on to things but honestly, I do. I'm not a hoarder but I'm not one who is constantly clearing things out that I don't need. I wish I were.
Happy weekend. Enjoy that pizza!
ReplyDeleteThe pizza was (and is!) delicious.
DeletePizza and martinis and clean sheets....what could surpass that? Love the falling down house returning to nature....along with it's ghosts/spirits of previous life. The way of nature. Purging closet items is not an easy task..... lots of emotion in that- I get it-
ReplyDeletesusan M
and PS. That sidewalk leading to the DG is an accident just waiting to happen...... not good
DeleteSusan M
You're right about the sidewalk for sure. I need to call our county rep but I feel like all I've done is bitch to her about the DG for months now. Still- someone could easily get hurt.
DeleteYou're also right about the emotional aspect of letting go. Humans are so weird.
Oh, I love the fally down house. We do that too, just fall over and collapse and become the dirt again. So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYes! And a whole lot of that house will actually return to the dirt. Not much non-biodegradable material in it.
DeleteOut here the bind weed is just little white flowers and mostly leaves. We tear it out and it comes right back. I have an arm tattooed with the blue-purple ones of my childhood. So good to see them on your post. XX
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that is a happy memory for you, dear Beth.
DeleteThat's a lot of hangers! I did the same several years ago, with skirts and shorts that were NEVER going to button up around my waist ever again. I'm still holding on to a couple of pairs of very comfortable jeans, just in case my behind suddenly shrinks back a few sizes.
ReplyDeleteI love that first picture with the flowers reaching for the sky. And I'm making pizza too! I haven't even begun the dough yet though as I always seem to make it too early and it is well risen long before I am ready to assemble and bake. So today I'll make it after I finish with the computer.
Timing pizza dough can be tricky but luckily my husband likes his crust thin so a second rise isn't very important.
DeleteYou know, I think that our culture teaches women that if we just try hard enough, we can retain the same body shape we had in our early years. If we were more honest with ourselves we might have to go through all this sturm und drang about getting rid of clothes no longer fit us.
My former in-laws lived near Pittsburgh airport, BUT it was a lovely rural, tree-filled area. Everytime we went to visit (we were working in D.C. at the time), it seems to me they'd built another shopping mall and cut down more trees so the frightened deer would be dashing up and down the freeways. Oh progress is one thing but I could never fathom how all those malls were going to survive - and they didn't, as it turned out! Now I hear they've built an Amazon "Fulfilment Centre" just above her home. Ugghhh. Still, my crazy ex-BIL might be able to get a job there as it's at least within cycling distance (he can't drive, thank goodness)!
ReplyDeleteI'll tell you one thing- those Amazon Fulfillment centers sure do hire a lot of workers to build them. I don't know about staffing them once they're built but Lord, the number of work crews I see is astounding.
DeleteThe letting go thing comes in waves. There always seems to be a high tide to counter balance. Hangers!!! i am not a fan of hangers- I like to hang my things on the floor.
ReplyDeleteI read your comment earlier today and have been trying to figure out how to hang things on the floor ever since! I love it.
DeleteOh, the blue in that first photo is really fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI am sure you had a lovely Friday and I hope you have a nice weekend!
Thanks, Ellen. It was a very nice Friday.
DeleteCulling the closet is a cleansing experience, isn't it? I can't believe how fally-down the fally-down house has become!
ReplyDelete