I took a short detour on the way to the super market tonight. The trip brings me into Middletown. My lack of culinary savvy makes the supermarket trip daunting. Once I get beyond the short list of milk, eggs and butter, I’ve got nothing. I wander the aisles wracked with guilt as I remind myself that the Poptarts and Oreos are evil. To avoid the inevitable internal dialog, I pulled into the old mill area. Looking for solace as the sun set lower, I couldn’t help but think of the lack of photographic nutrition I have been experiencing. I feel desperate for some good material, but even today I was coming up empty handed. I looked at the old mill. The sun gave it a nice late afternoon glow, but it was missing the enticements that warmer weather brings. I clicked on the close-up lens and crouched over hoping to find something interesting. A homeless man who eyed me suspiciously startled me. I was in his territory. I wanted to photograph him as he looked for 5-cent cans strewn about but I felt silly snapping pictures as he was trying to survive. Trying to be respectful of his privacy, I turned from him only to come face to face with a decaying skull of some creature. Jumping up, I got caught in prickers. Cursing under my breath, I knew it was time to go. My supermarket trip was calling, like it or not. I wandered through the cavernous building getting the obligatory task completed as I wondering how Rachel Ray and Martha Stewart make it look so easy. As I wheeled the squeaky cart out the door, I came face to face once again with the homeless man. He smiled a toothless smile and asked me if I had gotten any good photos. Startled again, I gave him a smile and told him that just being out there makes me feel good. I wish I had thought quickly enough to share some of my food with him, but he was already gone. I left feeling connected. While I have some lack luster photos to show for the outing, my mind can only picture this man that brought the early evening into focus. In the end, I realized that today’s ordinary miracle was for my eyes only.
6 Comments
Wendy Kane
2/19/2012 10:47:08 am
These are great, the skull is a bit icky. What do you think it is?
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Jen schulten
2/19/2012 11:11:51 am
icky for sure but I couldn't leave it out since I practically fell on it. I have no idea what it was...kinda freaky.
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Michael
2/19/2012 01:11:11 pm
Looks like a chupacabra to me
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Susan Dean
2/20/2012 11:58:58 pm
Jen, I love the Old Mill reflection. The rippling water adds so much!
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Jennifer Schulten
2/21/2012 03:01:34 am
Thank you Susan. It's always interesting to capture something we often zoom by in our cars. The thought it was cool how some of the windows look normal while others look like their in a house of mirrors. Take care. J
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2/21/2012 01:06:08 am
Unusual story and pics, Jen. I guess one never knows what or who is around the corner.
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