aging… change… inevitable.
cracks, moss, peeling paint…
we could fill the cracks, kill the moss,
slap on a fresh coat of paint…
and pretend it’s new again.
we could let it succumb…
to deteriorate into a heap of
rotted wood and crumbled stone…
and pretend it’s dead,
even though it’s not.
we could let it age with dignity,
maintaining – as best we can –
the structural foundation,
while letting the history of
weathered storms, myriad encounters,
passing years…
tell it’s stories with grace, honesty and pride –
even if for nothing other than the fact that
it is still standing.
My vote is for dignity.
Photos taken at the historic Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks in Vancouver, WA USA. Established in the 1840s as Camp Vancouver, this American military post remained active for more than 150 years.
Daily Post weekly photo challenge: State of Mind
What Rhymes with Stanza? 
The whole while I was reading, I was trying to imagine where you would take me… Knowing it would be somewhere in our “local” area. Excellent choice and grabbing thoughts about Fort Vancouver… John McLoughlin would approve! Interesting post, Maggie ⭐️
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Thank you! High praise coming from an educator of Oregon Trail history! Glad you enjoyed it.
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A lovely post. Beautiful images.
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Thank you! And thanks for commenting.
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Beautiful comment. I see homes like this all over the country and it makes me so sad that our nation is in this state. Neglect is slowly creeping through our neighborhoods as people have to slim down budgets and make decisions like braces for the kids or paint the house.
WELL DOCUMENTED!!! And extremely well stated! I’m moved!
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It seems — in general — that people do the best they can with what they’ve got. You’re tight, there are budgetary constraints, but I appreciate when historical structures are allowed to age gracefully. Thanks for the comment and the follow!
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