small wonders

and suddenly, it's spring.

Downtown Columbia

When I moved to Tennessee I worked just South of Nashville in the Franklin area. On my house hunting quest, I spent many evenings taking different routes home exploring different towns. Old town Columbia was one of my favorites. I like the way the square is set up. Something about it is calming and a little hip. I went to a meeting there a few weeks ago and it reminded me how much I liked it. Saturday I went back for a little exploring.

treasure hunt

the hunt, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

Part of the magic of this store is the store itself.

Built in 1890, it's full of beautiful layers of brick and plaster. The open air lift, with gears and ropes exposed. The stairs, worn smooth and rounded, dipping in mid-tread. Hard wood floors with light leaks form the lower floor peeking through. It's magic I tell you. I especially love the large upstairs windows with their light flowing in and view of the square.

This place is a treasure.

left behind

August : twenty eight

I don’t fancy myself a gossip. In fact, part of my job involves asking probing questions. This is a.) partly due to regulations involving money laundering prevention, and b.) the know your client rule. This in general doesn’t constitute gossiping as I’m not sharing the information with outside parties. It is however, difficult for me in general, as I feel like it is not my business where you get your money or how you spend it... (I would be offended if someone asked me where my money is coming from or what I planed on doing with the $15K I just withdrew from my account. My answer would be that’s really not your business.) Or why you lost your job and what you plan on doing now…. although if you did lose your job or need a second income I can definitely share an opportunity with you. I ask what I have to ask to follow the rules. In my mind less is more. My partner on the other hand, has a little different view. For example, when I find out that a client is getting a divorce. I can easily ask about changing their beneficiaries, setting up an appointment to divide assets etc. My partner on the other hand wants to know the details, the why, and I think is disappointed when I don’t ask the “why” question. In general, she has the more personal relationship with them and I feel like if she wants to know the why, she should ask it herself. I on the other hand am more of a need to know kinda girl, and for me to do my job, I don’t need to know the why, just the when, where, who and how.

That being said, I do wonder the story behind some things. Why is that building empty? And what is it’s history? Or what happened to make that house family-less. This gas station, or filling station as my grandmother called them, this was once someone’s dream. What happened? Did the owner retire? Was he run out by the corporate stations, the Wal-marts and Shells, the Chevrons and BP’s? Or did he die? Does his family now own it? Did he even have a family? Or perhaps, the city or county now owns it due to a tax sell. These are the stories that I wonder about.

I guess in some ways if I was my partner, I may know the answer to some of those questions.

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Coincidentally, Ray LaMontange's Gossip in the Grain came on Pandora as I posted this.

Going Crazy

August : sixteen

On hot summer days, Alice would grab a cooler and round up all of us kids, "get in the bus!" she'd say. We'd all sit on the wooden floor (the bus had no rear seats). I remember being so excited and asking where we were going. She always said the same thing... "we're going crazy"! It made me laugh because even at 5yrs old I knew it was because we were driving her crazy! Sometimes it was the park. Sometimes it was the beach. Every time it was a great treat. Thanks for that Alice.

Friday night G E M..

August : thirteen

borden milk plant

remnant

peeping through

August : six