Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Theme Day: Empty

Today, July 1, is Theme Day in the CityDailyPhoto community around the world.
This looks like a very, vast and lonely highway, but it really ain't that much! I usually set upon it twice a day to and from work. Believe me. It's well traveled, with lots of wildlife roaming early mornings and late at night. Be aware and 'on your toes', as they say. This stretch in the AM reminds me of the early summer mornings traveling back from West Falmouth, with Dad, where he was a night janitor and watchman 5 nights a week at Falmouth High School. Starting at 9 PM, I often would accompany him on his rounds, shoot basketballs in the dim lit gym, listen to the Giants or the Dodgers playing on the West Coast, while eating baloney sandwiches that Mom made, and fall asleep in the library in my sleeping bag(no wonder I have such an affinity for literature). He'd awake me at around 4 AM, and we'd start the drive back to Portland in darkness, watching for deer on the edges of the highway. There was this one stretch of road where we'd head almost straight down, over a bridge above the Presumpscot River and then straight back up the other side. With the windows wide open, this thrill ride down the hill always gave me goose bumps. And as I recall, the road was ALWAYS empty!

7 comments:

  1. Oh, Birdman, this story would make a wonderful picture book.

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  2. What a story! I love the photo too, it's a shame you don't link to the site.

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  3. That's one very straight stretch of road that brought all your memories flooding back. Love it.

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  4. Your photo of the lonely and deserted highway is very good but your story is great. Loved it. Maine is a beautiful state. I've stayed in Camden and visited just about every craggy rocky cove from Bar Harbor down the the Atlantic coast. (Wonderful photo opps.) My wife fell in love with Belted Galloways...strange affliction to be sure. (She thinks they're cute!?) Thank you visiting Tampa DP. Come back often. - Frank

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  5. I like the story and the photo very much. It's giving me yellow line fever. I want to get out on the road and drive someplace I've never been, with Kerouac reading his "On The Road."

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  6. What I remembered were the green boards...man that high school had green boards...very modern for the '60's. No blackboards to write on..just new green boards...I must have tried them out...can't recall though.
    Thanks for the memories, Birdman.

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  7. I agree with bcat . . . this would make a great picture book. I'm glad the road was not traveled heavily when you took this or we would have some "road kill" on the yellow line. Great interpretation for theme day.

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