STRANGE? Not Where I’m
From
I guess
where ever you live there are unusual sights that people just take for granted.
I worked in
or around New York City for 40 years. It
is interesting how you pay no attention to some things that you see every
day. The Twin Towers of the World Trade
Center were spectacular until some fanatical ass-holes decided to knock them
down and murder 3000 people and yet when I walked through to get to work I
barely even noticed them.
For several
years I took the Staten Island Ferry to work every day. The ferry went right by The Statue of
Liberty. I never even looked up.
For years I
worked downtown in the World Financial Center.
Between the two buildings which make up the Financial Center is an
Atrium several stories high and within the atrium is a forest of giant palm
trees. Palm trees in New York City. I often ate lunch underneath them and never
thought it unusual. Millions of people
visit downtown every year and gawk at sights which I simply took for granted.
I remember
fishing with my Grandfather in southern New Jersey.
“Were going to go out about a mile and
drift passed the elephant.”
There is a
six story wooden elephant in Margate, New Jersey that is visible from the
ocean. It is a landmark for boats in the
area. I never thought twice about drift
fishing passed the elephant.
In Union
County New Jersey, a common directional instruction involves driving just
before or just after a big ship, simply referred to as “The Flagship.” A big ship on rt. 22 in the middle of New
Jersey miles from the ocean? Nothing
strange about that. Hell if there is a
six story elephant by the shore, why not a big ship inland?
What strange
things do you see every day that you don’t even notice?
So interesting that you write this, as I am from a small town in KY and would be blown away by those sights. But of course, when surrounded by something everyday we tend to become immune to the effects of its beauty. It's human nature. So for me, on the opposite spectrum, I see the rolling beautiful Appalachian Mountains every single day but rarely take notice, whereas you likely would coming from a big city. It's all about perspective isn't it>
ReplyDeleteI am a photographer and so I am afraid I notice everything both large and small
ReplyDeletenothing comes to mind right now, but i'm sure there are some oddities around here.
ReplyDeleteWe never explored anywhere wherever we lived so we're trying to make up for it now. We lived in Billings, MT for many years and never went to the Big Horn Battlefield to watch the reenactment of Custer's last stand until we started RVing full time. This year we're headed to Virginia in the Fall where Jim grew up and we're going to spend time exploring some of his home state.
ReplyDeleteNothing quite as spectacular as those sights but just along the motorway from us is a huge willow man - a living sculptor made from willow about 30ft high. We are also surrounded by the most beautiful countryside with the Quantock hills and Exmoor. Of course there is the history that I walk past every day in town too - The Tudor Tavern (now a Nero's coffee shop) where the famous Judge Jeffries, the hanging judge used to hang out (excuse the pun).
ReplyDeleteIf I never noticed it, how would I know what I didn't notice? I'll have to look around and see what I missed and get back with you. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never looked.
ReplyDeleteI'm parked in an enormous parking lot, and I have found the only bit of shade. Is that odd?
ReplyDeleteOn my 5 minute drive to the store I have the East Ridge mountains a mile away, the Highland Mountains 4 miles to the south, the Pintler Mountains 10 miles to the east, all around 10-11K feet, snow covered until August. I live in the middle of the Rockies, and rarely look at them any more.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I sometimes drive by our magnificent forests without seeing them. I have to remind myself that forests are miracles and not everyone has the opportunity to enjoy them that I have.
ReplyDeleteSinkholes. There's one at the end of my driveway. I don't see why these things make the news all the time. Sinkholes gotta sink. Also, we used to have some magnificent chat dumps around these parts, until the EPA got all fired up about them and shaved them down and covered them over. Like a little lead dust blowing around the community, being ingested by toddlers playing outside, ever made our citizens any wackier or made them die off before their time.
ReplyDeleteI've always maintained that tourists often know a city better than the locals! We used to live a short drive from Niagara Falls and rarely visited. It was a good thing that we had visitors from Germany twice during the summer before we moved away from Buffalo, so I got to see them twice more.
ReplyDeleteWe now live right in the middle between Orlando and the Tampa Bay area, both popular destinations for tourists from all over the world. I do occasionally smile when I drive to work and notice the road sign: Orlando, next right - Tampa, next left.
Alligators or roseate spoonbills are a fairly common sight here, but I still get excited about them.
Original canons left over from the Battle of Birmingham. Picture of Grandpa and your dad.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in Adelaide for 27 years now and have seen or noticed hardly anything.
ReplyDelete