Those times live on in our hearts and minds, and can be found a simple walk from the parked truck. Times are what we make of them and the guy who owns the goods in the photo can walk away for awhile and absorb that time that is still there, but undetected by those who can not see.
The items are a metaphor, of course, and one can see by the responses that they can bring back memories or simply represent stuff. One man sees a creek he must cross to further his hunt....and curses the creek and the ruination of his hunt. Another man sees the creek and sees an opportunity to camp and fish...and a water supply for the flora and fauna. One man sees an old shirt like his grandpap wore and is sent on a trip to the past. Another person sees an old shirt.
A person looks upon the bicycle tube wrapped around an old bow and sees a travesty that needs to be sent to Goodwill or the flea market. Another sees a wrinkled old hand, on a curmudgeonly figure who understands the grip works for him...is warm and comfortable and cost just pennies to apply. One person sees a dirty old shooting glove. Another sees an archer at full draw in a beautiful woods.
What I see is the sport that I knew and still know. I see an old bow that comforts the hand and warms the soul; one that can cast a heavy hunting arrow two hundred yards down range, or quickly through a whitetail's ribs and into the hinterland on the other side. I see the hand of the man who crafted that bow in a factory in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, in 1957...I see the pride in his eyes as he finishes the polishing task before sending the bow to shipping. I see Art Laha shooting a similar model in the Wisconsin woods while dressed in his checked wool.
When I look at the glove I see Glenn St.Charles standing in front of the Chalet near a well used mule deer migration trail. He doesn't stand for long of course, that's why they nicknamed him "Ridgerunner George."
The shirt reminds me of who I am and how I see my own life. It's relatively simple, yet advanced to the point that I need to choose; whether to follow a never ending supply of things I can't live without, or understand that money will never buy real prosperity, it merely supplies us with creature comforts to dull the senses for what is real....faith, family and satisfaction in being who and what your are.
Of course it also allows me to keep warm during the cold Pennsylvania winters, when those trails are snowed-over and the creek more resembles a glacier. I can see all of these things, and more in that photo. Thanks for all of the responses, I enjoyed all of them.
Topic: What do you see in this photo? (Read 1775 times)
