Introducing a New Post Series: Scenes From a Sidewalk
The Houston division of the engineering firm I work for is located in two main buildings, plus several floors situated in two other buildings located near the main campus. Alas, the project I’m working on is located in that smaller building ‘waaaay down there in the middle distance, about a half-mile or so down the street from our main buildings.
(And no, Smarty Pants, it doesn’t mean we’re, like, radioactive or anything. It’s where the client chose to locate the project team.)
Now, as a consequence of bein’ a cube-dweller, I naturally fancy a stroll now and then to help get the ol’ blood corpuscles movin’, y’know? So whenever the weather is nice (and just as a reminder for you folks living up there in the Frozen North, lemme just say that here in Houston, it’s pretty much ALWAYS nice), at lunchtime I usually take the opportunity to mosey on down to the deli, located in our main building.
Question: What do you do when you’re just moseying along? (Note – here in Texas, we don’t just walk, we mosey – but maybe that’s just us.)
Y’know, I gotta admit; before I started writing here at the Zone, I wasn’t the most, um, observant fellow. I mean, back then, I probably woulda gone back and forth – and likely wouldn’t have even been able to tell you if the sun was shining or not. Seriously.
BUT (and notice; that’s a BIG ‘but’), nowadays I find myself observing literally everything. It’s an interesting shift, I’ll tell ya. And therein lies a tale. Or to be more accurate, several tales.
Scenes from a Sidewalk
See, there’s this sidewalk…
OK; as sidewalks go, this one is admittedly fairly mundane. Like most, it essentially parallels the curve of the road. And for the last few months, this is the sidewalk I mosey along on most work days during my lunch break.
So here’s the thing. I was moseyin’ along down (or is it up? I can never figure that out) that sidewalk one day when it suddenly hits me (sound of dull thud) – I thought about the very first post I wrote back in July ‘08 for Joyful Jubilant Learning: How to Learn Something From Anything. (Feel free to stop here and go read it. I’ll still be here when you get back, I promise.)
Anyways; I said to myself, “Self, why not put some feets to them fancy words of yours?” (Sometimes my Self can get pretty uppity. I’ve learned to live with it.) “Why not take note of various objects along the sidewalk, and then see if you can truly turn each one into a lesson from life?”
Now this, er, conversation kinda got me to thinkin’ (which is probably that noise you’ve been hearing lately). My Self was actually startin’ to make a lick o’ sense, y’know? (I must admit to some surprise here, as that is not usually the case.) So I says to myself, “Hey, why not?”
Thus was born a new series I’m callin’ (as you have no doubt discerned by now since you can read the title up there as well as the next person) Scenes from a Sidewalk. I’ll be lookin’ at essentially mundane and oft-overlooked items I’ve passed by along that sidewalk up there in the photo. (Hence the use of the word ‘scene’. It’s a play on words, see? Get it? Seen? Scene? Oh, never mind.)
Anyhoo -
So what kinda things will I be writing about, you ask? Well, all I can say is… even I was surprised at the range and depth of the lessons one can learn from life – at least, as seen from a sidewalk. Some lessons may be lengthy, some may be quite short; hey, even I don’t necessarily know how they’ll all turn out.
All I can say is… expect the unexpected!
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UPDATE: Here’s the posts in the Sidewalk Series to date:
Outstanding in Your Field
From There to Here
Reflections
The Shadow
The S.H.I.N.E. Syndrome
Cut!
Squished!
The Path Not Taken
Sometimes You Need a Little Help (Guest post over at What Would Dad Say)
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Photo: The Long Winding Path, by Robert Hruzek
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41 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
Robert, A very Zen like idea. You can learn quite a bit living in the moment, deeply observing your environment. I look forward to the series.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Client Blog Makes the Search Engine Marketing BIGLIST
Sounds most intriguing Robert, and I’m looking forward to the series. Maybe you could throw in a linked WILF project too? (except then you’d have to refer to pavements too, to make it fully inclusive
)
Joanna Youngs last blog post..30 Practical Ways to Get Round Your Writing Road Blocks
Ahh yes. The sidewalk less traveled. I can see it now.
It is the little things that make life precious you know.
Oh, I don’t think that frozen north crack got by me, Mr. Man.
(goes and gets his snow shovel)
Off to get on with it then…
Upper 48
Tumblemooses last blog post..Happy Birthday to me
It’s all a big, fat lie, I tell ya! You had me going until the “here in Houston, it’s pretty much ALWAYS nice” part. I have been to Houston between the months of May and September, and felt like I needed to take a shower after walking distances much shorter than that there sidewalk (anything over fifty feet brings on the effect). I eagerly look forward to that June 1st post “Why Does Everyone Look Drenched When There’s Not A Cloud In The Sky?” post.
Mike
P.S. I’ll match it with a July 1st post entitled “So that’s what a blast furnace feels like” from here in beautiful Phoenix!
Mikes last blog post..The Recovery Begins
Ha, talked about coincidences, talks about trains of thought crossing the miles! Stretching my legs today, it was warm enough outside for a change. The snow was melting yielding the sidewalks to those daring to go out. Much safer there than in the streets with the cars and such cruising on by.
Anyway, long story short, wrote one of my sherku
http://quietpoet.blogspot.com/2009/02/winter-detritus.html
continuing my detritus series, you know, a good mouthy name for that stuff on the sidewalks and the gutters, etc.
Enjoy the walking!
I think sidewalks themselves are interesting. When we lived in Port Townsend, WA, in the ’80s and ’90s, I’d walk around the uptown area (a steep hill above Water Street) and notice the WPA stamp and date on the now buckling walks around grand old Victorian houses and around a few, like our own rental, former papermill-owned cottages and other modest dwellings. In the 60s, in Boston’s north end I wandered over brick walks and alleys, savoring the bustle of a thriving Italian neighborhood…and stepped over garbage and trash not yet collected. When I was a child in Providence, R.I., our house had a black sidewalk like a road top and was cracked like many of those until the city required my father to replace it with cement.
Of course, some sidewalks aren’t technically sidewalks at all, but dirt paths along meandering side roads.
All of these footpaths are intriguing, and I haven’t noticed them in years, so thanks for the reminder to get out and walk and look at life more closely. I will remember my mother’s constant admonition (”Stop looking at your feet”) and notice what’s above ground level as well.
Terros last blog post..Half a Glass or Half Empty?
@Brad – A “zen like” idea? So that’s what that word means! Man, I always thought “zen” was the sound deadlines make when they whoosh past!
@Joanna – Actually; that’s not a bad idea! Don’t be surprised if this month’s topic turns out to be “What I Learned From Concrete”!
@Tumblemoose – Do you guys even HAVE sidewalks up there in the Frozen North?
@Mike – You’re kidding me, right?
A few years ago, I flew to Phoenix for a job interview. It was August. When I arrived at the hotel where the interviews were to take place, that’s when I discovered it was a “group” interview type thing. The room was full of interviewees – about 100 or so of us.
While awaiting my turn, one fellow sitting in front of me turned to the guy next to him and said, “I don’t care WHAT they say about ‘wet’ heat or ‘dry’ heat – it’s punkin’ HOT!”
True story.
@Steve – OK; so what did you learn from all that junk you find?
@Terro – What an interesting nome de plume you have!
Say, while you’re noticin’ all that new stuff, why not write about it? You’d be surprised what you can learn – and share!
Hat tip to ya, and thanks for droppin’ by!
Robert,
Funny I was going to comment on cement but I shall look forward to your post on it…now.
Funny how you always get me thinking…
You are hilarious!
Thanks for that!
Robert,
sorry for being a bit late, but I am looking forward to that series as well!
Ullas last blog post..The Old Lady
Robert, your story amazed me. Our life also like the long winding journey, when we’ll facing many unexpected obstacles during the journey, but it will be fined in the very end…
That sounds like an awesome idea! Can’t wait to hear. I think there are many life lessons all around us that we simply miss, usually because we’re too busy or preoccupied.
[...] a tip o’ the hat to ya![Note from the Proprietor: This is one of an ongoing series of posts called Scenes From a Sidewalk. Want to know what it's all about? Follow that link to read the series [...]
Robert, I’m excited about this new series! I love finding the life lesson in the ordinary. I think it’s why I love the parables so much. In your capable hands, I know that ordinary will become extraordinary.
Karen Swims last blog post..Love is Not on My List
@Diane – Hey, glad you dropped by, Diane, and I hope you enjoy the posts!
@Ulla – Me too, Ulla. I have lots to write about!
@Wilson – Hey, I appreciate that, Wilson!
@Val – That’s exactly what I thought, too! Figured it might be nice to put a pen to ‘em.
@Karen – Aw shucks, Karen! You say the nicest things!
Very interesting post. Like you, I am a cube dweller and must walk to and from buildings (depending on what project I am currently working on). Usually, I spend my time trying not to step on any cracks…yes, I am superstitious! From now on, I will take your advice and be a bit more observant! Thanks for the post….it really got me thinking.
@Kathie – Hey, you never know when you’re going to find something amazing – right under yer nose, Kathie! Do us a favor and let us know what you discover!
Here’s what I noticed on a Valentine Day walk: http://theplumduff.blogspot.com/2009/02/ducks-and-roses.html
Terros last blog post..Ducks and Roses!
Pretty cool, Terro! I hope those roses weren’t thrown in the river as a sign of love gone awry, though!
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..What I Learned From 2008 – Chris Garrett
[...] a tip o’ the hat to ya![Note from the Proprietor: This is one of an ongoing series of posts called Scenes From a Sidewalk. Want to know what it's all about? Follow that link to read the series [...]
[...] a tip o’ the hat to ya![Note from the Proprietor: This is one of an ongoing series of posts called Scenes From a Sidewalk. Want to know what it's all about? Follow that link to read the series [...]
[...] a tip o’ the hat to ya![Note from the Proprietor: This is one of an ongoing series of posts called Scenes From a Sidewalk. Want to know what it's all about? Follow that link to read the series [...]
[...] by now you have probably noticed the ongoing series (Scenes From a Sidewalk) I’ve been perpetrating here at the Zone, right? Good for you; on the ball as [...]
[...] a tip o’ the hat to ya![Note from the Proprietor: This is one of an ongoing series of posts called Scenes From a Sidewalk. Want to know what it's all about? Follow that link to read the series [...]
[...] his readers to participate in a groupwrite project. This month is inspired by his monthly series, Scenes From a Sidewalk, and is called What I Learned from a Sidewalk. All entries will be posted Monday, March 2. His post [...]
[...] Zone Musings is hosting a groupwriting WILF (What I Learned From) project this month based on his Scenes from a Sidewalk series. Here’s my [...]
[...] a tip o’ the hat to ya![Note from the Proprietor: This is one of an ongoing series of posts called Scenes From a Sidewalk. Want to know what it's all about? Follow that link to read the series [...]
[...] a tip o’ the hat to ya![Note from the Proprietor: This is one of an ongoing series of posts called Scenes From a Sidewalk. Want to know what it's all about? Follow that link to read the series [...]
[...] at Middle Zone Musings has had a series running now since about the middle of February entitled Scenes From a Sidewalk. You can follow that link to get more details, but basically he writes on thoughts and ideas [...]
[...] A big ol’ yee-haw (sound of yee-haw!) and a round of applause (sound of applause) for all you wonderfully talented and incredibly fine-looking writers (my story and I’m stickin’ to it!) who joined us for this month’s slightly unusual group writing project: What I Learned From… a Sidewalk [...]
[...] you needed to read anyway. Her husband is another one of my role-models. So why don’t you mosey on over and read Karen’s post – What I Learned From [...]
[...] his site, What Would Dad Say. It just so happened I was right in the middle of writing yet another Sidewalk Series post, and coincidentally enough it just happened to fit right in with the general theme over [...]
[...] little things – and what’s worse, finding meaning in them. Yikes! (That was the basis for my Sidewalk Series back in February – check ‘em out if you want to see what I mean.) Even so, it’s pretty [...]