About a month ago I was lost on twisting narrow roads that you find in the back-country where I live. Even though I was lost I was observing the beautiful views from my windshield. I knew I would eventually find my way out of the road maze.While lost, I spotted this old abandoned Kentucky homestead off the side of the road with a real estate for sale sign. The place was gated so I had to shoot my post photos from quite a distance.
Now I am speculating that the attitude of most people who drive pass this homestead view it as a bunch of falling down, useless shacks (except developers). I view it in another way.
This is what I view when I gaze out upon such places. I see -- continuity and change, tradition, folk culture, authentic people, family, settlement patterns, craftsmanship, material culture, life and death, and sustainability over time and space. What do you see?
I see America shifting from an agrarian culture to an urbanized, industrial culture.
ReplyDeleteMM says, "Go buy it!" Further he says, "It's a jewel of a place, where someone could "make a self-sufficient living." For me, I see both the ending and beginning of dreams; I also notice the grass is mowed; (someone cares, for one reason or another;)I see a sturdy value system that ranks family, work, simple celebration and nurture above acquisitions of material "stuff." Thank you, again, Barbara, for this thought-provoking post.
ReplyDeleteElora
Genevieve, Elora and MM -- Very, very good comments from all of you! All very perceptive. --- barbara
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