Everything was dry again. I got up and packed up. Here are a couple pictures around the sleep spot...
These ridges run all the way across the property. I camp in one of them.
I walked up to see the clearer area adjacent to my sleep spot.
Notice the prevalence of that red/orange sand.
There were definite areas where erosion created small streams when it rained.
Thankfully (so far) they channeled the water away from where I camped.
I worked at Starbucks, but Star Wars Episode VII - The Force Awakens was on my mind. The University 16 Cinema was about three miles away, and they had started showing the movie the day before. Everyone was talking about it on this day. I found it hard to concentrate, and eventually gave into my desire to make the long trek to the theater.
I stopped at the China Star for my daily meal first, and enjoyed quite a bit of sushi. I didn't want to be too full for this walk, so I cut myself off when I began to feel full. Lines from the essay I'd just written the day before on The Affliction of Permanent Comfort cycled through my thoughts. I had been only mildly satisfied with the quality of that writing, but it seemed to have struck a chord with some of my friends, making me feel better about it. I can never predict how people will react to what I write. As I've said so often in the past, what I think is my very highest quality work is often ignored, while things that I'm not fully happy about are appreciated more.
Nevertheless, it was either ironic or metaphorical that my fortune cookie said...
The star of riches is shining upon you.
I'd double checked the route to the University Cinema and drew a little map on my napkin. It was simple: walk to Jennings, then take a left onto Plaza Parkway. The cinema itself was at the end of Plaza on a perpendicular stretch of road called, the Oconee Connector. And, I figured it would take about an hour to get there. Of course, I found a way to screw it up.
Once on Jennings, I looked over to my left and saw a very extensive grove of bamboo...
Very tightly spaced bamboo.
Unlike one of my Mobile spots, there was no sleeping in this mass.
Going up a steep hill - hills have been rare on this current journey - I got to the top, where a road turned off the the left, but it looked like a driveway to condominiums. I walked past it until I seemed to have walked a little too far. Then, I knew I'd walked too far when I reached the end of Jennings. Shit! It seems a simple thing to relate that I had to turn around and find the place where I'd missed my turn, but a kilometer of wasted walking is frustrating nonetheless. I looked down at my feet as they shifted along.
These new shoes were great, except for a couple of aspects. One, is that the "memory foam" reflects heat back onto the bottom of my feet. As a result, they don't sweat, but they do get hot--a feeling like walking on hot squishy sponges. The other issue is that the surfaces of the insoles are very slick and smooth. It seems that no matter how tightly I tie them, my feet tend to slip forward when walking downhill and backward when walking uphill. Of course this wasn't an issue with the boots since they had ankle support and a fabric surface to the insoles.
I considered solutions to these problems as the same scenery I'd just walked through passed by again. I had gone a little longer (again) than I thought Plaza Parkway should have come into view, and questioned the judgement of walking further if I would just have to turn around again. Also, the place where Jennings ended did seem to have more activity down its side street. Shit!
I turned around AGAIN, and re-walked my now-well known kilometer, back to the end. Down the left side street was a sign with an "O" on it. I couldn't see that far and tried with my very scratched glasses--definitely an "O". That must be the Oconee Connector. I walked to it, and sure enough. I definitely had walked too far. But, following Oconee, I came right up to the cinema parking lot. It was right across from the Plaza Parkway terminus. I then vowed to take it back to Jennings on the return trip to the Atlanta Highway sleep spot.
It wasn't very far across that parking lot. And, for once on this day's little trip, there were good sidewalks to follow. I knew I couldn't bring Saggy into the theatre. It's kind is not allowed at the movies. So, as I made my way across the parking lot, I scouted out woodsy areas where I could stash it until after the movie was over.
The parking lot was full, but there were no lines outside of the cinema. This struck me as a bit odd, but I knew they had this movie playing on (I think) ten different screens, staggering the show times every thirty minutes.
At the back of the parking lot was a steep and rough dirt path up and into the woods. I climbed it, stepped over a discarded tree (still with its large pot attached) then through a bunch of pricker bushes until I found a small grove of trees; one I should be able to locate again in the dark.
Looking around, I considered spending the night in the area, especially if I was forced (no pun intended) to see a later show. I had no idea if the earlier ones would be sold out.
Once Saggy was safely stowed in the trees, I walked back out of the woods, down the embankment and across the parking lot to the cinema. This was a brand new building--SO new, that Google's image of it had been taken when construction was only halfway through. Nice to see how it turned out. It was built along with its associated mall area - apparently - just last year. I'd read the reviews of the cinema itself, and there were no comments with less than four out of five-star ratings.
Upon entering the building, I saw a concession stand on either side. This is where you buy your ticket and snack at the same time. I certainly didn't need a snack. There were no lines at the counter. So, I walked up and purchased my matinee ticket for $8.00...
Interesting to think that I'd gone from STARbucks, to the China STAR, received a fortune
about the "STAR of riches", and then bought a ticket for STAR Wars. Ha!
Hey! It was a four-star day!
I walked into the almost empty theater and watched the half dozen previews for upcoming movies. Some pretty grand animated sci-fi films are coming down the pike. It would be good to see some in the next few months.
I hadn't been to a movie in a LONG time (since well before leaving Maine). So this was a real treat! I was feeling so good. I put my glasses on (which worked much better in the dark, when the scratches weren't magnified by sideways-shining light).
As the feature began to roll, with some of the most classic words of all time, "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." time was suspended for a few moments, and I was transported back to 1977, to a Cinema in Westbrook, Maine, as a nine year old boy; sitting in the darkened theater with my birthday friends, David, Christian, Graham, Dean, and little sister, Deb...all anticipating that very first and massive trumpet blast. Then, thirty eight years, four months, two weeks, and six days (or 14,022 days!) later, it came! Blast!!
And, the opening words streamed off into space, as the iconic theme played in the background, introducing this new and highly anticipated episode. I'm not going to fully review it, as it has already been reviewed hundreds of times. I will only say that I enjoyed it immensely. I was surprised how realistic it looked. Unlike the last three installments, there was very little computer graphic (CG) animation during the actors' scenes; all live action. I found this odd at first, considering that CG in sci-fi movies these days is pretty much a requirement. The more elaborate, the "better" (according to the latest trends).
It was refreshing and very much like the original (Episode IV - A New Hope) with these real sets. There were some scenes that I found a bit too self-referential to that first episode. But, hell, how could I possibly complain? It was a brand new Star Wars episode, for pete sake! The acting was terrific (especially the new young actors Daisy Ridley--as Rey, and John Boyega--as Finn). There were not quite as many different planets visited as in the more recent films, but that was made up for by having a lot more substance to the story line. New plot revelations were satisfying and worked well. No spoilers from me though!
It seemed too short, as great movies always seem. And, I left wanting to see the next episode immediately, as great movie series' should always make one desire.
The air had gotten cold, and I shivered a bit - not yet having purchased the fleece jacket yet, for temporary lack of funds - but I got used to the chill by the time I rescued Saggy from its gloomy hiding place.
Now that I knew where Plaza Parkway was, I took it to Jennings, and lo and behold, realized that it was INDEED the road that turned off at the top of that hill earlier in the afternoon--the one I thought was a driveway to condominiums--duh! I also realized that I had done the right thing by returning to the unknown road at the end of Jennings and then following Oconee to the cinema.
I'd walked by this house earlier, and thought it was worth a picture, just for sheer tackiness...
This was about a quarter of what these folks had on their property.
Love the spherical Santa. Talk about an electric bill
(not just lights but little fans keeping things inflated)!
What I nice Christmas present for the power company.
When I see these Christmas displays I have mixed emotions. Of course I GET it! It's fun and festive to put them up. They entertain the neighbors and drivers-by. And, they highlight that it is indeed (apparently) CHRISTMAS season, and not the much-maligned "Holiday Season".
What I do find somewhat disingenuous though, is that self-described "Christians" (more often the ones leaning slightly, or more, to the right) have fought so bitterly for the return of the word, "Christmas" to this season--claiming that it is the birth of Jesus we should be proud to celebrate, only to honor (almost worshipfully) all the pagan aspects! In all of their triumphant wisdom, they celebrate Santa Claus--the myth of a god-like figure who knows what everyone is thinking, punishes children for being "bad" and gives them plastic crap for being "good".
I mean, really? Doesn't the very First Commandment basically say, "You shall have no other God but me"? Didn't all of those old time celebrated Hebrew prophets live and die by smashing the temples of the false god, Baal; preparing the way for monotheism, and subsequently the birth and life of Jesus? Perhaps I'm a bit foggy about my history?
Furthermore, where are Santa, Rudolf and his twelve reindeer friends, small celebratory spruce trees, stockings "hung by the chimney with care", elves, the North Pole, etc. mentioned in this precious Bible, which the Christians have "defended" by "restoring Christmas" to its supposed "rightful place" as the prime holiday of the winter solstice?
Where did Jesus - in the books of the New Testament - indicate that his birth (which probably occurred in late AUGUST, 7 BC!) should be celebrated by adopting pagan rituals and symbols, and then topping it off by LYING to children about a human-god (Santa); a being only maintained by requiring parents to fall all over each other to buy "gifts" - on a "Black Friday" after THANKSGIVING (!)? And, all of this knowing that most children will "feel good" on Christmas morning with all the material stuff they've accumulated, and use for only the first week--IF that long?
Just curious, I guess?
Is no one else seeing a tiny shred of hypocrisy here? We are so tangled and lost in our misperceptions and accepted habits that we then think it is "charitable" to donate to "Toys for Tots", so that all the little poorer American children can "feel good" about accumulating their OWN things--just like the more "fortunate" children do--making Christmas "complete". None of them (at least during Christmas time) give a hoot about the holiday's namesake. You know that as well as I do. Yes the nativity story may be recounted. But, jeepers, what kind of twisted logic do you use to tie your inflatable Santa and Frosty The Snowman to Jesus being born of poor parents who couldn't find a room at the inn, to an INTELLIGENT child who might bring up that uncomfortable issue? You LIE, of course! Nice...
When children are finally told that Santa is a myth it is the first time that they truly realize their parents are willing to deceive them. I remember it well. I never fully trusted my parents again, after lying about something they themselves claimed was as "sacred" as Christmas was. It is not "for the children" that Santa exists. It is for all of you parents. You are willing to do this to your children, because your parents were willing to do it to you. I know you laugh it all off, saying it's just innocent fun. But ask yourself truly: Is all of this Christmas "magic" JUST innocent fun?
Okay...
Maybe I've gotten stuck way out on a limb with all of this, but, if it is TRUTH that should be associated with the noble life of Jesus, then...I mean, technically, shouldn't we celebrate HIS birth when it actually occurred (in the summer)?
If we are going to make the traditional pagan winter solstice a "holiday" that has nothing at all to do with Jesus or what he taught, then weren't those bleeding heart liberal, intellectual, pinko, communist, Volvo driving, Vermont living, tree hugging, Muslim and Jewish sympathizers on the right track with the term, "Holiday Season"?
Again, just asking? I think I should be allowed to ask such questions, here in this "free" country, at least before Trump rises to power and finally destroys the world that he and his play group of billionaires have been working to destroy for decades.
Or, maybe, I should just shut the hell up and sink into the mindless insanity that most people practice?
PLEASE, let me know in a comment here or at Facebook. I'd be interested to see how you handle what I've said above.
It took me only forty minutes to return to the woods entrance, and then my sleep spot. The falling temperature motivated me to get the tent up right away. I climbed into it, and replayed the new Star Wars episode over in my mind - as best I could remember it - from beginning to end... Well... almost to the end. I fell asleep around the time Han and Leia are reunited--hope that's not a spoiler.
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