I’ve got several singing gigs this holiday season, and my performance wardrobe was in dire need of an update. I had already gotten a new tuxedo, and now I was after a red sweater vest for the informal holiday gigs. That’s how I found myself in Dillards talking with one of the most fascinating people I’ve met in a long time.
I have a confession. When things get chaotic I have occasional bouts of depression. One of the best ways to combat this is to get away from the house and start exploring. Such was the case Tuesday of this past week. I needed out of the house. I wasn’t sure where I was headed, but preferably somewhere interesting where I could take some photos. I headed east. It was familiar territory, and places I had already visited and photographed, but even familiar ground can yield new discoveries. My explorations took me across Spartanburg County and to the mills along the Pacolet River Basin – Glendale, Clifton, and Pacolet itself, with a couple of outliers thrown in for good measure.
I have distinct memories of Christmas parades when I was growing up in Laurens County. Parade units would assemble on Fleming Street and march around the square. We would usually take up our spots on the corner in front of the old Winn Dixie. The smells of cigarette smoke entwined with sugary cotton candy pervaded the air. I remember the vendors – piles of inflatable crap, some related to Christmas, and some not. These came only with the aforementioned cotton candy, as well as other goodies such as candied apples.
So, with these memories, Laura and I headed out to meet Chip and Anna to enjoy watching the Greenville Christmas Parade with their little ones.
Wow. November is gone, and now we’re on our way into December. The depth of my writer’s block increases. I’ve only made two posts all this month, and one of those was a copy-and-paste job. Maybe I’ll get out of this slump, but we’ll have to see.
I think I’ve realized that I don’t have to write a documentary-styled, viral-ready article for every post. This blog used to be just that – a blog of the random stuff I encountered. I decided to get back to that, just so that I’m writing again on a regular basis. So, expect more of the mundane, with an occasional gem sprinkled in. In that vein, I’m starting with Thanksgiving, even though it was exactly a week ago as of this writing.
I’ve had to write several bios lately for projects with which I’m involved. That reminded me of a link a friend posted on Facebook. Gregg Davis, art teacher at Palmetto High School, had posted a link to 500letters.org. The page starts with a letter that can be a bit confusing. However, hidden within the letter is a link to one of the best Artist Statement Generators I’ve seen.
The weather lately has been nasty and not conducive to getting out and exploring. Keith Dover had Friday off, and with the possibility of good weather in the forecast, we decided it was time for another photo ramble. We bounced several possibilities around, but eventually settled on the Mount Carmel area in McCormick County. So, on this past Friday the Thirteenth, we collected Ken Cothran from Clemson, then headed south.
I’ve had it happen before. I get so far behind with blog posts that I don’t know how I’ll ever get caught up. Usually this happens when I’ve been traveling and haven’t had Internet access. However, this time it was different. We’ve had two solid weeks of nasty weather, normally a perfect time for hiding in my studio with my computer and getting some writing done. Yet, for some reason I’ve had massive writer’s block. I stare at the mound of data, research, and photos I’ve collected, and don’t write a damn thing. I get distracted by everything else under the sun (or lack thereof, in this case.)
While out on my fall leaves ramble with Glynda yesterday I got a text message from friend Ken Cothran. He was out on his own color ramble, and sent me a photo of Whitewater Falls in spectacular foliage. So, on Friday I decided I hadn’t found quite enough leaves. I thought I’d see if I could replicate Ken’s photo, and find a few more colors.
I realize that the previous post was labeled “Part 1” and the OCD part of me hates leaving it hanging without a conclusion. However, I’m going to do just that, since this is timely, and that is not. The autumn colors have been absolutely fantastic this year, and I’ve had several chances to get out and take photos. Here’s a quick rundown of what I found in Upstate SC and Western NC.
It was early 20th Century and cars were just coming into their own. However, the roads weren’t keeping up. Most were still dirt tracks at the best of times, and terrible mud pits at others. A cross-country trek was an adventure, and only for those with the means to obtain and maintain an automobile. Greater buy-in was needed from the general public so that bond initiatives and legislation could be passed. Thus was born the age of the Pathfinders, adventurous souls who sought out the best routes, laid out the paths for early highway systems, and brought to the public awareness of the need for good roads.
