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January 11, 2006
Childhood landmarks and favourite places, vanished
This barn used to have a huge sign on the side that asked passersby "Where will You be in Eternity?". It's just south of London Ontario, and I have no idea how long it's been gone; Peter drives past there much more often than I do and he says it's been a few years.
This empty expanse of nothing is out on Highway 4 between Clandeboye and Centralia. There used to be a little yellow brick church here which sat empty for a while and was in bad shape, and when I was a teenager some Franciscan monks moved in, erected scaffolding and started fixing the old place up. I would see them in town sometimes, going to the bank, shopping, always friendly, always smiling, and always dressed in brown cassocks, just like real monks from storybooks. There was some sort of dispute with the diocese in London and the Franciscans got kicked out; the building eventually died of old age and neglect without them and ended up being bulldozed.
The churchyard is still there, looking a bit lost with a big empty space next to it instead of a church. Still, every time we drive past the spot I look for it, and usually point to it and say to Peter "there's the Franciscans", as if they're still there. Or as if he's going to forget that they were there, when really how could he if I insist on telling him every single time? Jeez, I just now realized how annoying that must be. Sorry, Pete. But ten bucks says that by the time we head up that way again I'll have forgotten I'm sorry, and I'll be pointing at a bare spot once again, saying "the Franciscans. . . ".
Sorry about the poor photo quality, but they were all taken from a car on bleak December days. That sort of suits my mood today though; today someone I care about decided to throw in the towel and quit blogging because of a totally undeserved, unbelievably cruel flaming he received on some asshole's blog. It reminded me of my dear friend M., who was driven from LiveJournal years ago by some stalkerish shits who hurt her pretty badly and then followed her around and continued to harass her as she moved her blog to different locations around the internet. It seems this place is just one big playground, complete with all the stupid, petty bullshit and abusive recess-time dynamics we all thought we'd left behind in grade four. I thought this was a place where I could find my own friends and not have to stand on the sideline wishing those girls would let me jump their rope, but I guess if you get a large enough group of people together you're bound to have some shithead bullies in the mix. Gah. It all makes me so mad. R., I'm really going to miss you.
Posted by jodi at January 11, 2006 09:24 PM | categories: assholes
Comments
Oh, I know what you mean on both counts. For me, it's more like, "hell, where did that gigantic field go?" There's a big bunch of buildings there now.
And yes, unfortunately bullies are everywhere. Sorry about your friend.
Posted by: Norma at January 11, 2006 11:11 PM
About pointing out the Franciscan monks that aren't there -- I do something similar, but in relation to my favourite piece of graffiti ever. On a green public toilet wall in front of parkland in Melbourne, there were two really beautiful, haphazard spray paint elephants. The elephant on the left said "What do you like to listen to?" and the elephant on the right replied, "Why elephants Gerald, of course." It was there for years, and I loved it. And then, on day, we drove by and it had been painted over by the council, leaving a boring, depressing blank wall. Two days later there was an ugly tag there instead. I still say hello to Gerald every time we drive by.
Posted by: crumpet at January 12, 2006 01:10 AM
The internet is just like the physical world, there are assholes everywhere. Trouble with the internet is that because people aren't face to face they tend to forget their manners or get all brave and stupid and say stuff that they would never say in person, either out of politeness or fear of having their head smashed in...
Personally, I gave up on jumping rope with the popular girls years ago, I'm finally happy here in the corner with the weirdos talking about important shit rather than movie stars and what's in fashion.
Big hugs to you and I hope your friend feels better soon and comes back fighting.
Posted by: Anna at January 12, 2006 05:45 AM
That sucks about your friend. I've been on the end of one huge flaming session and it totally shocked me ... up until then, I'd had such a good experience with being online. I learned my lesson. I hope your friend comes back.
Posted by: Carrie at January 12, 2006 09:00 AM
Yes, I was thinking of Carrie's experience when I read this because when I think of internet bullies, I think of that crowd. Maybe your friend will feel better later and come back to type another day. I hope so.
I can sort of relate to the weird feelings change can leave you with. Since moving to GA, where I grew up but never expected to see again, I am often assaulted by that strange emptiness.
Posted by: jenifleur at January 12, 2006 11:35 AM
I love the beauty of barren and snowy expanses of land... So moving!
Posted by: Gina at January 12, 2006 12:29 PM
It always feels odd to return to a place I haven't seen in ages only to see how much it has changed.
Posted by: Zardra at January 12, 2006 05:45 PM