Speaking of tear-downs....
We are in Duluth, MN this weekend for a baseball tournament in nearby Superior, Wisconsin. I will write more at some point about all my travels this summer. This post muses about the odd things one encounters in one’s travels.
Ironically, two days ago I wrote a 50-word short story about the tear-down of a haunted building. And then I came across this.
This is Superior High School, which is under renovation (evidently). But at first glance I thought immediately of war and devastation. I thought perhaps someone had bombed the place.
This tear-down is stunning from all angles, with crumbled brick, concrete and rebar spilling from it like a gutted carcass.
Other metaphors came to mind, about how utterly messy life can be sometimes.
It made me realize we are always in some state between tear-down and renewal, and at points along the way — even as we build toward better things — it is not pretty.
Then I got curious about this school renovation. I researched it a bit, and it appears to be a multi-year $60 million dollar project that will be completed in 2019. What must it be like for the students whose entire high school experience is taking place in a construction zone? I’m sure Homecoming will be awesome.
Maybe I’m a bit maudlin because my own teenagers just turned 17 and are entering their senior year in a few weeks. Change is simultaneously good, fearsome and constant.
What do you think?
Thanks for reading! This is my first post written on my WordPress site to my Steemit blog (thanks to the steempress plugin) entirely on my phone.
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://jaynalocke.com/2018/07/08/speaking-of-tear-downs/
"Maybe I’m a bit maudlin because my own teenagers just turned 17"
I'm betting your kids are in better shape going forward, than that building, thanks to you.
Of course it's going to hurt letting go a little, as it has been for every good parent who has ever lived. You are part of the great tapestry of life, the way it has always been and the way it will always be.
Luckily, you have at least one great positive fun hobby, in Steemit, to fill some of the hours you once gave them. Maybe try to get them on it too.
And hurry to do the things you love to do, cos sooner than you think, the years will pass, and you may find yourself a grandma, being asked to do all those many many things grandmas do lol. ;)
Oh yes, I’m definitely looking forward to being a grandma! (But not too soon.) And the tapestry of life is indeed rich and varied. Such great perspective!
That sure does look like a haunted building that got bombed.
And that leaves me wondering why a school would undergo such renovations at that price? What will make it that much more special?
Wouldn't a school be so much better if it mostly took place outdoors rather than indoors? Obviously taking place inside on a count of bad weather. Just my thoughts :)
Yes, ha ha, they definitely need shelter. Winters are harsh, especially here by the Great Lakes. It can easily get down to 10 or 20 degrees below zero (F) with high winds. But great idea! I bet they have outdoor schools in some places in the world. 😊
They do and are becoming more and more of a thing and are even trying to introduce them here. We are far from the Great Lakes but do get harsh winters. Im not sure in fahrenheit but in celcius it can get to -40 or colder here. Not sure how the schools have figured it all out but it would be interesting to see.
Leaving aside the aspect of this building (indeed, it looks like a bombed school), I feel that the coincidence is too big. What were the odds to find such a tear-down only two days after you wrote the 50 word story? Perhaps more research will reveal the hidden corpses. Just saying... 🙂
I totally understand what you are saying about kids growing up. Mine are just obnoxious toddlers but they grow up too fast. I keep remember the days when I could cuddle them and no hands were pushing me away. I can only imagine how they will be at 17.
But we, the Romanians, have a saying: thanks God they are healthy and happy. This is the most important thing.
Well give them a cuddle from me, when they will let you! I only manage to sneak in a drive-by hug from mine from time to time. 😊
I will but when they sleep...lately these are the only moments when I catch them.
Thank you for your kind words, @jayna 🙂
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