Does not look like much of a road does it? Curves off into a pleasant looking country area. A nice choice perhaps for a family drive on a summer evening. That it once was not. It has an tragic history beyond my personal ability to comprehend. We could have taken that turn, and gone to see for ourselves, but opted silently just to look at it as we passed by.
This one has meaning too. Here a Blazer slid off the top of this road to land upside down on the lower road.
A broken collar bone and other injuries. Six months of painful recuperation. He could have died, maybe should have, but did not.Left him with questions and gratitude.
Think of all the road metaphors and sayings you hear. Road to ruin. Road to riches. The road to hell is paved with good intention.
The thing about roads is that you think you have a choice and if you are at a crossroad, you do. But not in the photos up there. The people who suffered in the photos above really did not have a choice beyond being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Take my word on that.
There is a mystery to roads, even the ones we choose at the crossroad. What will happen if you go this way or that. Make an educated guess, but there are no guarantees. There are no explanations when the tragic occurs. No one on either was intoxicated. The roads were not bad. What causes stuff like that to happen? Certainly bad judgment was present. One was deliberate, the other a big surprise. Lives were changed forever.
Normal looking roads for where they are. But I imagine that most roads have their tragic events. Most of the time we drive right past and never think about it
unless you see a small cross or other marker left by someone who cared. We get so lost in our own journey that we miss what was a significant event. I guess it is better that way. But both these roads gave me a good deal to ponder last Saturday... not to mention a darned creepy feeling. Eventually I decided that WHY did not matter in either case. It just was.
So, with that mess to consider... the top road is where Diane Downs drove her children with the intention to killing them. Doesn't look like that kind of road does it?
A good song for today's post. Hope you enjoy it. I have not heard it for a long time.
Those awful roadside memorials always bring me up short - a reminder of tragedy when you aren't expecting it.
ReplyDeleteFunny you would mention Diane Downs. I'm familiar with the case because I read Ann Rule's book. The road you pictured doesn't seem eerie at all until you know the tragic events of that night.
ReplyDeleteIf there isn't a special circle of Hell for people like Downs and Susan Smith, there should be.
You have a fine mind, Ananda. Refreshing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your unique views with the rest of us. I always look forward to reading you blog.
Today's was a real keeper. I will never look at roads of any kind in exactly the same way again.
Is there anything sadder than toys on a grave ?
ReplyDeletefrom Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
It is funny how life pulls us up short sometimes, with painful memories or reminders of our human vulnerabilities.
ReplyDeletesecret agent woman-- I think they are very sad and they almost always catch my eye. There is one right off the road in the photo where the Blazer flipped. Someone lost their someone there. Makes me glad it wasn't mine.
ReplyDeletei haven't seen god since i quit drinking.
ReplyDeletei don't really miss him.
Cube-- That is so beyond my understanding. (I read Ann Rule too.) When I took that photo I was quiet for a long time.
ReplyDeletePeggy-- Thanks. This one sort of put me in a mood.
ReplyDeleteThere is a median strip in Fresno that can make me cry if I have to pass it. Good thing I don't have a photo of it. But crap! Now I've reminded myself.
Cricket-- Perfect words. (I love that book.)
ReplyDeletelaura b.-- Yes it is. This came out darker than I intended. Actually, the one where the Blazer rolled is happy... he survived! Amazing when you see the photos of the actual crash and damage to him. But those are not mine to share.
ReplyDeletebilly pilgrim-- So did he shuffle His feet? I haven't seen him yet. Just angels. :-)
ReplyDeleteNice road shots. When the girls and I took our California road trip, we came across all kinds of cool streets.
ReplyDeleteI'm okay with the roads I've taken and the experiences I've had. I of course prefer quite country roads these days. To camping sites, speaking of which, I'd better go on another camping trip in about a week.
ReplyDeleteChurlita-- Thanks. I like roads. I like the way the angles come out in pictures.
ReplyDeleteBilly B.-- You see a lot of country roads I imagine. Enjoy that camping!
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I feel like I'm in the middle of a Stephen King novel...
ReplyDeleteJill-- I get into a dark mood some days.
ReplyDelete