Contrasts

Scary thought! I managed to get two pictures on one post. No stoppin me now. OK I'll get serious.

The picture on the left was taken Jan 18, 2008. My twins birthday. I am parked under the dark cloud with snow crystals pelting down on me. At the same time I'm enjoying the view of blue sky and sunshine in the distance. This was one of the first snowy delivery trips I made.

The picture on the right was taken March 28, 2008. This was the last snowy delivery trip I made. Fortunately the weather had been warm long enough that the roads were just wet, for the most part. There is always the exception and in some of our delivery areas it is just a "given."

It is well known that I would like to live where it is warmer longer and colder shorter. But I have to admit also that there is something about the four seasons as we know them here that is invigorating. With the exception of driving in the snow I enjoy them all.

While I was born and raised in an urban environment, Binghamton, NY area, I much prefer the rural/country setting. The air is different, fresher to me. I'd have liked to have some open space for my children to enjoy. But I'll admit that my 50' X 130' lot is much nicer to take care of as I mature. As with my PCjr my children learned to live within our small yard.

These pictures were taken from the same location and direction. The Rt 20 corridor has afforded me some nice pictures. Sometimes I have to remind myself that my primary purpose is delivering books to worthy library's and patrons.

Canadarago Lake is another interesting spot. In the summer it is bustling with all the summer residents. As the ice thickens in winter it becomes "ice hut city" with all the fisherman out there. There are obviously favorite spots to ice fish as there are clusters of huts scattered here and there.

Earlier in this note I mentioned "rural/country" settings. One of my "retirement" jobs was servicing funeral directors at the cemetery. I did the vault installation with all the set up necessary to do the burial. I mentioned one time how I much preferred to do burials in the "country." The cemetery care taker was incensed I called it "country" and told me so. So now I generally make reference to "rural" when mentioning anything out of the city.

When I look back on everything I've done since being encouraged to take my companies "buy out" I've enjoyed everything. Including my current position. From scenery like the pictures here to all the nice people I've met in and around the libraries. Every once in awhile when I'm sorting at the back of the van someone will thank me for the service we provide. Those thank yous take the edge off the winter drives.

Shortchage Gene is signing off for now.