Much of the joy and beauty of traveling and running in new cities and towns comes from seeing the unique landscapes and experiencing the particular make up of each community. Unfortunately, both of these continuously lose ground to the ever-present and painfully humdrum retail plazas. You know the ones. In their boring conformity, each has a do-it-yourself home repair place, a retail superstore, a bookseller, a party supplier, a handful of restaurants, a mattress place, a furniture outlet and--what retail hub would be complete without them--a cell phone provider and the ubiquitous coffee house. Oh, the monotony!
Other than the 40 degree spring morning, how might one demarcate Bay City, MI from Atlanta, GA? I started my daily run and managed to escape the anti-inspiring mall sprawl by dipping into a neighborhood. Quickly, I forgot about the institutional look of the main thoroughfare as I marveled at the delights of the commonalities in America I find more appealing. Running in the residential area was much more about real people than the pretentions and staunchly middle class blah of the commercial shopping district. I noted and took special appreciation of:
Unfinished renovations
Americana-like above ground pools, picket fences, picnic tables
Pristinely manicured lawns across the street from a yard with very high grass
The Virgin Mary illuminated by a string of lights
A dog house with hanging baskets of perennials
American flags flying
Christmas garland wrapped around porch columns
Decorative mail boxes, college banners, churches, and undecipherable yard art.
The through street ended at a set of railroad tracks that bordered the Saginaw River. I took a turn and followed the tracks into a heavy industrial area with sediment piled higher than homes. In the first light of day and along the banks of the smooth rolling water even the long rusted bridges and general trappings of Blue Collar America looked fabulous. My eyes had been opened.
The run back to the hotel wasn’t so bad. I found a lesson for myself. If you look for beauty, you’ll find it.
Enjoy the beauty all around you.
Tom
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