Skip to main content

Seeing Things


 

Yesterday’s blog post had an unexpected consequence. This advert turned up in my Facebook feed.



Oh, my. 

I enjoyed the conversation around the topic of proliferating Santa events that followed yesterday’s blog post. Hats off to the reader who pointed out that more such events mean shorter lines to wait in for squirmy kids. I hadn’t thought of that. Another kind reader reminded me that these seasonal gigs mean that Santa is earning a paycheck. Yet again, I hadn’t thought about all those Santas trying to make a living. It’s definitely food for thought.

One more thing. What does this Santa frenzy feel like to people who don’t celebrate Christmas at all? Does it feel like an annual expression of the power of the dominant (Christian) culture? Does it reinforce a feeling of “otherness”? If there’s a reader out there in Columbia/HoCo who’d like to write a post addressing this from a non-Christian perspective, reach out to me through the blog. I’d love to make room for other points of view.

Continuing in the vein of seeing unexpected things, I want to know more about this rock. 




What is that massive thing behind the tree?







It’s located by the Johns Hopkins Community Physicians in Stevens Forest Green. This is not an ordinary, run of the mill rock. Someone had to cut it for it to have that shape. And what do those three circular marks mean?



I have an inkling but I’d rather hear from you all first. Any ideas? Also, do you know where Stevens Forest Green is? I didn’t until I had to take my daughter to a doctor’s appoint there. 

And, finally, one of those oddball things you are more likely to find here than anywhere else.



There is clearly something happening in this picture. To my mind, it depicts someone running, possibly accompanied by dogs. They’re headed down one of Columbia’s famous pathways. Or perhaps you see something else.

Truth in advertising:



It’s a service door I spied while waiting in a drive-through line. Starbucks, maybe? No, I don’t recommend taking photos while driving but I was at a full stop at this point. And those scratch marks on the door grabbed my attention.

Seen anything interesting around town lately?

Village Green/Town² Comments

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Teacher Gifts

Today is the last day of school before the Winter Break. It’s a good time to remember the far-reaching nature of our public school system. You may not have children. You may have sent your children to independent schools. It matters not. You will be impacted one way or another. Yesterday I read a long thread on Facebook about several waves of illness in the schools right now. There’s influenza A and norovirus, I believe. And of course there’s COVID. Apparently in some individual schools the rate of illness is high enough for school admin to notify parents.  When I was little the acceptable holiday gift for a teacher was one of those lovely floral handkerchief squares. (I don’t know what it was for male teachers. They were rare in my elementary years.) These days the range of teacher gifts is wider and I have fond memories of Target gift cards which I have written about before. I think it’s safe to say that giving one’s teacher Influenza, norovirus, or COVID is not the ideal holiday...

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...

F ³: Who Belongs at the Library?

  One of these things is not like the others One of these things doesn't belong Can you tell which thing is not like the other By the time we finish our song?* Did you guess which thing is not like the others? Did you guess which thing doesn't belong? If you guessed this thing is not like the others Then you're absolutely right.  Our library promotes equity. Our library promotes literacy for adults who have come here from many places. Our library promotes accessibility to materials and opportunities. Our library is hosting multiple Harry Potter themed events?  Tell me this isn’t so. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, has and continues to use the profits from those books to advocate for laws that diminish the rights of trans people. She has and continues to use her fame to influence public opinion to view and treat trans people negatively. In short, Ms. Rowling is using the Harry Potter book series to make transgender people around the world less safe....