TGIF: Depressing Week

The past week has been depressing.  Along with the outside single digit temperature and snow, the world news is becoming frighting.

In the past would utter, "all I know is what I read in the papers".  These days, since there are no local papers, "all I know is what I view and read on the web".

What I am finding is not happy news. In fact, it is rather sad and disturbing.

First off, I am an old guy, living in a small city and  traveling around the Midwest to photograph.  Have not visited outside the country for past 25 years. 

Therefore, what I view and read are not personal observations but simply what others view, write and post.  

Off course, individual reports are taken for what the are, but when so many respond in a like manner, tend to believe the reporting is accurate.

Of the many read web posts, this stands out - 

" Not going to lie: some days it’s difficult to scan the headlines and not feel a sense of existential dread.

Today is one of those days. Particularly so.

It’s hard to watch a Hitler-wannabe president replicate the Nazi playbook almost to the letter as he bows to dictators and throws allies under the bus."

                                                     Carmilevyaremy  

Now, photographs not words are my means of communication.

   Richmond, Indiana.

From a personal and isolated Midwest, this is what I  see and feel in today's world.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Black & White Wednesday: C & C Kind Of Day

 

It's a C / cold & C / coffee day here at the World Headquarters of My Midwest.

Inside, huddled near a heat source, attempting to stay warm as we wait for the FedEx delivery of additional ground coffee and some photography equipment.

From a recent very quick and short local walkabout.

    Richmond, Indiana.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Monday Morning Coffee: There Was A Time / Arcanum

 

There was a time,

   Arcanum, Ohio.

I could stand in the middle of these hushed streets forever, but life on the outside doesn’t stop, especially for idyllic visits to a vanished past.  

Soon enough the clock beckons me back to today's overcast sky, 3+ inches of snow and 8f temperature.  

Maybe in the end, all we have are memories and the road ahead.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

TGIF: The Writing Is On The Wall

 

The writing is on the wall: For those who want to read it.

   Convoy, Ohio.

The writing is on the wall: The signal has been given.

The writing is on the wall: It will not disappear suddenly.

The writing is on the wall: The footprints are in the sand.

The writing is on the wall: Not only a story of confrontation with the past, but of public refusal to confront the present. 

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Black & White Wednesday: Jim's Union 76

 

  Along Route 36

 

Photos ensure moments stay with me, long after they’ve passed.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Monday Morning Coffee: Chillicothe / Tomastik Foto

  

Chillicothe, Ohio, the county seat of Ross County, is located along the Scioto River 45 miles south of Columbus. The city has a projected 2025 population of 45601. 

Now for over 25 years have cycled the annual two day, 100 miles down and 100 miles back - TORV - from Columbus to Portsmouth to Columbus.

While the bike route passes thru Chillicothe, never stopped to check out the city.  Rather, just keep moving on. 

On an early Fall Sunday, packed up the photo kit, a thermos of coffee and drove to Chillicothe for a bit of wander. 

The city was bigger / larger than most of my photo walkabout locations and for some unknown reasons didn't feel welcoming for a photo ramble. 

Finally, after several non-successful attempts, decided bag it, return to the car and drive home.    

Tired of uninteresting sidewalks, commercial buildings and private homes, ventured into an alley and headed to the car.

After no more a few feet in, there was a image just waiting to be photographed.

    Chillicothe, Ohio. 

Tomastik Foto!  To use the word Foto was unusual.  There's a background story here and need to find it.

Returned home, got busy and completely forgot about the - with one exception - rather lost trip.  Immediately was involved in other calling tasks.

This past week in going over images files, came across the Tomastik Foto.  Time to figure this out.

After a bit of time uncovered the following:

Charles F. Tomastik 98, died January 2011 in the Chillicothe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following a short illness.   

On July 18, 1953, he had married the former Minnie R. Bower who died June 2012 at age 94 in Kobacker House, Columbus, following a brief illness.

Charles and Minnie were Co-Owners of the former Tomastik Foto Shop.

Oh, it would be wonderful, if somehow, someway,  somewhere could discover examples of their photographs.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

TGIF: Markle, Indiana

We're inside for today and the next few days as a rather cold Winter is still with us.  Only short trips outside for Paisley.

Hopefully tonight's woman's basketball games with be a bit better than last nights poorly played Celtics lost to Dallas.

In late fall, ventured north to visit Markle, population 1,087 with annual rate of change of 0.4%, a town in Huntington and Wells counties, Indiana.

Unlike other locations the Markle area has an extremely large number of seniors and large number of middle aged adults.

  Markle, Indiana.

 

The town was very, very quiet.  Perhaps this was just because it was early on a Sunday

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.