Essays taken from a weekly newspaper column published in the Washington County News, Washington, Kansas. Look for my book, "Dispatches From Kansas," available from Amazon.com, or from the author.
I'm not sure what to think about the yard art on that grave with such a beautiful background as its setting. Is it a reflection of local culture and therefore adds character? Or is it like going for a nature walk and finding a bunch of garbage on the side of the trail or rock music blaring from a nearby tent? Don't know what I think. But I'm enjoying your pictures. You're missing out on some beautiful gray, rainy weather here!
Dan -- The cemetery reminded me of the typical Hispanic graveyards of the SW--bare dirt, jumbles of rock, lots of bling and plastic flowers. Bluff's population, though, seemed mostly white Caucasian and for the most part well-to-do, so I don't know what to believe. Most cemeteries in the SW are dirt and gravel because of the shortage of water and the inability to have nice lush lawns. More fitting to the terrain, too. Sorry to be missing out on the soggy weather. We've had sunny skies, some perfect clouds and one nasty dust storm.
This is the first old car photo I've really loved - I'd hang this one on my wall!
The black and white cemetery photo is wonderful. It reminds me of a barnacle clinging to the rocks - a human insistence to be remembered and recognized despite the scale and grandeur of the land. I really, really like it.
Linda -- It does look like oil spewing from a pipe. The overhang was fantastic, though getting there was difficult and getting out an adventure I wasn't positive I would live through. Like you, I felt the Bluff cemetery was so stark and unforgiving it had to processed in monochrome. I found the place oddly pleasing for its rugged simplicity and almost ruthless need to adhere to the desert terrain.
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7 comments:
Great pictures Tom!
Give my husband a hug for me:)
Pattie
I'm not sure what to think about the yard art on that grave with such a beautiful background as its setting. Is it a reflection of local culture and therefore adds character? Or is it like going for a nature walk and finding a bunch of garbage on the side of the trail or rock music blaring from a nearby tent? Don't know what I think.
But I'm enjoying your pictures. You're missing out on some beautiful gray, rainy weather here!
The stuck photo? Wild Hogs. (tee hee)
Great shots . . . looks like beautiful country. Glad you're posting on the road!
Dan -- The cemetery reminded me of the typical Hispanic graveyards of the SW--bare dirt, jumbles of rock, lots of bling and plastic flowers. Bluff's population, though, seemed mostly white Caucasian and for the most part well-to-do, so I don't know what to believe. Most cemeteries in the SW are dirt and gravel because of the shortage of water and the inability to have nice lush lawns. More fitting to the terrain, too.
Sorry to be missing out on the soggy weather. We've had sunny skies, some perfect clouds and one nasty dust storm.
This is the first old car photo I've really loved - I'd hang this one on my wall!
The black and white cemetery photo is wonderful. It reminds me of a barnacle clinging to the rocks - a human insistence to be remembered and recognized despite the scale and grandeur of the land. I really, really like it.
OK - Rorschach time. I looked at that third photo and thought about oil spewing from a pipe. Hmmmm.... Wonder where that came from?
Linda -- It does look like oil spewing from a pipe. The overhang was fantastic, though getting there was difficult and getting out an adventure I wasn't positive I would live through.
Like you, I felt the Bluff cemetery was so stark and unforgiving it had to processed in monochrome. I found the place oddly pleasing for its rugged simplicity and almost ruthless need to adhere to the desert terrain.
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