god bless us

September 4, 2002


The rain of the past few days came with some wind. Yesterday I noticed the wind had rearranged some of the signs on Bridge Rd. The boat yard is now selling "una gear" and something that might have been a Bach piece in E but I kind of doubt it. On the other hand, there's no "C" in bait... And Angelina's has begun serving religion instead of patriotism with their huge lobster subs. Yes, the obligatory "God Bless USA" that's been there since September 11 now says "God Bless Us". It seems somehow appropriate.

I went back this noon with the camera after spending the morning at the cat shelter harassing Roy and watching Bob change light bulbs. (I know I have odd ideas of vacation fun.) Despite its having stopped raining, the light was still all misty and foggy and I was having trouble setting up a good shot. Just as I took a second shot of the Angelina's sign, a woman in a yellow polo shirt and carrying a dog yelled at me "What are you doing?" in a tone that could only imply that I was somehow violating the Bridge Rd. code of secrecy or something. I replied "Taking pictures" in what I hoped was an even tone letting her know I did not care to discuss it.

But discuss it we did. Sort of.

Her: "But what are you doing? What are you taking pictures of?"

Me: "Not of you. Don't worry."

Her: "But what are you taking pictures of?"

Me: "Taking pictures."

Her: "Of cars?"

Me: meaningless grunts that leave affirmative or negative to the ear of the listener

Her: "Of cars? Just cars?" in a tone that can only mean that not only have I violated some sacred Bridge Rd. taboo but also that I am stark raving mad and can expect the men in the white coats to come after me any minute now.

Instead of engaging further in this non-conversation, I dash into Angelina's and order a veggie sub. Just as I'm saying "Provolone" the yellow-shirted woman appears behind me without the dog. I say "Provolone" again and pay for my sub, trying not to make eye contact with the woman. I'm not sure anymore which one of us is nuts. She watches me for awhile so I hide behind a copy of The Port Planet and secretly review the pictures I've taken so far. By the time I've finished the veggie sub and the horoscope section, which makes no mention of Aries being pursued by the anti-photography brigade, the woman is gone.

The fog/mist/haze has lifted a little while I was eating lunch, so I take another shot of the sign and notice that the Newburyport side of the river is now visible through the haze. The steeple of the Unitarian church on Pleasant St. lines up with the giant inflatable Maytag repairman. I resist the urge to laugh lest the men in the white coats are already on their way. But it is pretty funny. Anybody who thinks there's nothing to photograph on Bridge Rd. needs at least an eye checkup if not their head examined.

Obviously the giant inflatable Maytag repairman survived the wind in better shape than the actual Maytag repairman survived that service call at the cat shelter. The sign for "We Cut Keys", which is now advertising 54 years of almost good service (how the years do fly by!), most of the bait advertisements and seafood menus all survived too. I've intended to do a photographic "tour de Bridge Rd." for a couple of years now but never got around to it. Now that I know it could get me in trouble with who knows whom in this town with two harbormasters and no dog officer, well I don't know if I should take the chance. In the words of Tiny Tim "God bless us, every one."



Today's Bird Sightings
Plum Island

semipalmated sandpiper (100)
northern mockingbird (6)
snowy egret (3)
great egret (6)
mallard (9)
brown thrasher (1)
European starling (2000 +-)
osprey (1)
song sparrow (1)
cedar waxwing (1)
common grackle (1)
herring gull (6)
Canada goose (14)
gray catbird (4)
short-billed dowitcher (1)
red-tailed hawk (1)

This Year's Bird Sightings
Plum Island Year List

 

Today's Reading
Eccentric Islands by Bill Holm

This Year's Reading
2002 Book List

Today's Starting Pitcher(s)
Derek Lowe vs. Andy Pettit (Maybe the Red Sox have a chance tonight. Then again, maybe not.)


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Copyright © 2002, Janet I. Egan