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Duplex
Meanwhile, back in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, this place slowly falls apart.
It’s got a lot of company: there are many buildings in town that have seen better days. But you know me: I love places like this. I like the way they fall apart, the way someone tries – without success – to stop the decay, the way even the patched parts start to fall apart, too. I love the textures of the different building materials. And the way the weeds grow up, seeming to guard whatever’s still inside.
And, I love the mystery of the two front doors.
(My weekend was a WordPress weekend. I met up with blogger Donna Catterick in Santa Rosa and we spent Saturday and part of Sunday taking pictures. And, also had a couple of great phone conversations with Ehpem and Brett Erickson. What a weird thing, blogging!)
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
photographed 9.21.2013
Bad door!
I don’t know what infraction of the Door Rules this door broke, but it was evidently something pretty serious for it to end up being labeled “bad.”
There are a number of wrongs it could have committed: it slammed shut on someone’s hand; it left itself unlocked overnight; it has a hinge that squeaks. But, I think it’s probably the sign for Coors Light that got it into trouble.
One of my favorite authors is William Least Heat-Moon; he ends his essay on beer, “A glass of handmade,” by quoting his traveling companion, the Venerable Tashmoo, who takes a hearty swallow of a beer with no flavor and says, “Did I miss my mouth?”
I want to think that perhaps the Venerable Tashmoo had something to do with the designation on this door….
Chamberino, New Mexico
Some things that make me stop
An asphalt parking lot, being overtaken by weeds? A painted-over front door? A sign painted right on the concrete block wall? Ghostly evidence of previous signage? Wispy clouds? A goofy awning?
Yes, all of those things are connected. And all of them will make me stop and take a picture. Or a dozen.
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
photographed 5.4.2013
The day I was amused by signage
I know these two signs represented different businesses. I do.
But that certainly didn’t stop me from pondering the possibility of offering a drive-through option at the Christian Believers place.
And that made me think about how often I seem to be in line at the drive-up teller, just wanting to deposit one check and holding an already-filled-out deposit slip, stuck behind someone who is apparently filling out a lengthy loan application in the front seat of their car while I’m stuck behind them, unable to leave because there’s a car behind me.
Which led me back around to this scene: I’d probably be in line to turn in my homework (Sample essay question: What it your favorite Commandment, and why?) and get stuck behind someone who was there for their counseling session.
Which led me to take this picture, and walk on down the street, looking for more shots.
All of which has led you to think it must be really confusing inside my head. And that, of course, is an accurate assumption on your part.
Clovis, New Mexico
photographed 5.25.13
But only three triangles
It’s been noted that I have a very slight tendency to photograph rectangles, so I want to go on record right now to point out that while this shot does contain an estimated 158* rectangles, it also includes three triangles.
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
photographed 5.4.2013
*158 is a very rough estimate. If anyone wants to actually count the rectangles and provide a more accurate number that would be fine with me. I won’t even make you show your work.
One Day | One Image 