Thursday, December 23, 2004

WHAT I SEE

WINTER STORM DECEMBER 2004 

All day yesterday the alarm was out, winter storm coming! I was disappointed as it seemed the storm was passing us by. When my alarm went off at 430 am, I was greeted with the sound of ice pellets hitting the back of the house. I quickly found out they were bombarding all sides, including the roof! A thick sheet of ice encapsulated everything. As the weak sun appeared and cast down muted light....it was a winter fairy land. So naturally, I called in took a personal day.

I grabbed my camera, bundled up and hit the sidewalks. I began my journey walking down Broadway. As I reached Main Street I realized that I was on a very familiar path. One that I took most mornings on my way to grammar school because I always missed the bus. The sidewalk led me to downtown, passing in front of the churches that line the street. First, the abandoned Catholic church (now a catering facility) followed by the large houses that sit back atop a hill with expansive front yards ending with the spectacular rock walls. In my graceful youth, I balanced myself from one worn round rock top to the next precarious rock. The Episcopalian Church, the Baptist church, the Presbyterian church and then you were in the center of town.

I took pictures of everything that I fancied. The empty lot where Hobbs once stood, the site of my first attempt at being a criminal...shoplifting.  Now a hole in the ground that will be the expansion of the library.  The library was at one time confined to the top floor of the adjacent building. The smell of moldy books all bound in that rich earthy maroon tone are my childhood memories of The Logan Helm Library. My Mom took charge of the archaic excuse for a library and changed it for all time. The new Court House built on the site of the old Court House that burnt to the ground in the early 1960's. The Corner Drug Store still there, on the corner, changed  though eerily remains much the same.

Through the scary park, behind the Methodist Church behind the town center, where I was not allowed to play because of bums living down there. Where did those so called "bums" go?

I ended up at the cemetery. For one brief moment the sun shone through a small break in the granite gray sky. The above picture is the result. Much more dramatic in person than I could ever convey with Photoshop

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes the ice can be pretty excpet when hubby was driving to work this morning in it . It was treacherous. He could not get out of his car as it was encacsed like  tombe from ice when he got t o work. But your pics and walk sound so pretty. Lori

Anonymous said...

That's just beautiful. thank you

Anonymous said...

Trade you that ice for the snow we have, lol. But it is beautiful! xoxo

Anonymous said...

Oh Mary, We have just got to meet the next time I am in town. I know the places you speak of. Merry Christmas dear Mary.  Anne

Anonymous said...

You are such a surprising woman!  Shoplifting?  You?  Thanks for the adventure...JAE

Anonymous said...

We had an ice storm here on Monday.  But - no "real" snow!  We need some of the fluffy stuff! Beautiful picture.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful, wonderful picture!

Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

...A "personal day," huh?  LOL!  Ice storms are cool, especially if the sun comes out!  AND you don't have aynwhere you really need to go...  Lisa n :-]

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. The pic is very cool -- look at all that ice!

Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Those are some wonderful days...to get out and enjoy some winter weather. Nothing could make that picture of the graveyard better than what you took in person...I definitely agree with that.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photo.  Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

My favorite season is finally here!  Just sorry I've been focusing on hibernating in a warm apartment, instead of taking photographs!  Lovely picture...keep up the good work.