Thursday, November 8, 2012

Well Spent

It seems I been going, going, and going some more...

It's mostly been busyness. It needs to be done, but doesn't really lead anywhere.

People stuff is very draining physically for me. I need a lot of alone time.

Alone time has been in short supply of late.

There are changes at work.

Fortunately, I'm old enough to accept stress as normal...and human enough to feel fragile and exposed as well.

Perhaps that's why I'm drawn to old buildings. It is in their company I'm reminded even brokenness has a wholeness about it, a character of its own, a random beauty and an humility that can't be faked.

Everyday I ride past this old friend of a building. I finally took an opportunity to spend some time in its company. It was time well spent.



8 comments:

  1. Nice photos. I agree - there's something about old buildings that draws my attention as well. Perhaps you're right, there's a humility about them; what you see is what you get, no airs, no pretences.

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    1. We have so many old buildings here in St.Louis not being used or lived in. It is quite sad. Before the collapse of the housing market there was lots of rehabbing of older housing stock. Now not so much. Still there they stand and wait and keep watch.

      Thanks for the comment about the photos.
      ~k

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  2. I love old brick. My childhood home was a Tudor style. All the industrial places where I wandered were brick, too. Streets were brick. "They" don't know how to do brick anymore...I love to run my hand over brick walls.

    Your comment about "changes at work" is cryptic. I feel worry in this post.

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    1. You are absolutely right the art and heart of brick, stone, and concrete work seems to have been lost.

      I wouldn't say worry as much as just plain anxiety. At the Courts we are moving from paper to scanning to e-filing of court documents. It is a time of many unknowns. It is all going to workout, but it is a very stressful time. Part of the aftermath of my head injury is near stress intolerance. Needless to say this time is uncomfortable for me, but I do very good work and am highly valued. Yes, there well may be worry in this post, but there isn't fear.
      ~k

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  3. Definitely time well spent. Nice photos too. My favorite is the 4th down of the old pipe or branch. Not sure why, but it strikes me.

    It is good to have some alone time to recharge the batteries. We can't always be everything to everyone without some me time.

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    1. I really like that photo, too. It is part of an old railing. There seems to be something very true in that photo. And, I like the colors.

      I need a lot of alone time. It comes as a surprise to many people since I'm not particularly shy. Being with people just drains me and wears me out.
      ~k

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  4. Keith:

    I agree with Martha about "changes at work", something is on your mind and I hope that your change is for the better. Better said than done, some things we cannot control and we shouldn't fret about them but as we age we are more resilient to change.

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

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    1. bob,
      Change is difficult. My skill is being able to do the same thing over and over and over without getting bored or worn out. Very few people can handle repetitive work. I can. I'm working in a department that has existed for a little over a year, and will probable be phased out as we move to full e-filing. I would like to know where I will end up, but the future is unclear and that is stressful. The good news is there is a very good chance it will be, to use your phrase, "for the better" when all the dust settles.
      ~k

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