1467. river town

beside the ole mon’

six gun sally wails grace slick

a coal barge grinds by 🦊❤️

 On our final night back in my hometown we attended a concert at the Aquatorium that was built on the Monongahela River in 1969 as part of the city’s 200th anniversary. There was something very, very special being at the concert with my son Kevin. It tied our whole weekend of traveling down memory lane together. As a child the river was what everything revolved around.  It still does for us… 🦊❤️

1466. worn out

 

a fresh coat of paint

can not brighten the dimness

a matter of time 🦊❤️

I saw so many houses descending into ruin during my last visit home to Monongahela. Some were just left to continue decaying. Some showed that a valiant effort was being made to preserve their habitability. It was sad seeing the homes I remember in various states of disrepair as well as having disappeared completely. 🦊❤️

1465. night sounds

 

church bells echoing

 add in a train and some rain

i drift off to sleep 🦊❤️

The church bells in my hometown still ring out hourly as they did way back when.  The trains still run, granted much less than before and of course rains still fall.  As a child the sound of any of these while laying in bed were not only relaxing, but also comforting.  The combination of all three simultaneously was heavenly.  🦊❤️

1464. fourth grade at st. anthony’s

 

as i looked inside

1960 came to life

then and now collide 🦊❤️

My search for the past during a recent visit back to my hometown was somewhat satisfied when I peered through the window of my now defunct grade school. There I saw the original desks used since the school’s opening in 1957.  It was my fourth grade classroom… where the infamously dreaded Sister Timothy taught. 🦊❤️

1463. window to the past

 

standing in the now

peering hard into the past

through a grimy lens 🦊❤️

I spent much of my weekend back home in the Mon Valley trying to look back into the past. So much has changed.  So much has stayed the same.  🦊❤️

1462. going home

 

another sunrise

breaks over the mon valley

there my heart remains 🦊❤️

I left the Mon Valley fifty some years ago.  After spending the last weekend there attending my 55th high school reunion accompanied by my son Kevin, I realized just how much my heart still resides in this special corner of Pennsylvania. Now… it’s time to go home. 🦊❤️

1461. 55th reunion

 

like eons ago

foolish teens met and frolicked

good times remembered 🦊❤️

Last night I attended my 55th high school reunion. We shared with each other where we “got to” but the most fun was reminiscing about the crazy things we did 55 long (and all too short) years ago.🦊❤️