Something Quirky, Something Old, Something Blue
Jay over at The Depp Effect challenged a few bloggers in her Mind the Bell post to find something weird in our neighborhood that we take completely for granted, but something tourists would gaze at in perplexity.
Well just slight of getting the whole community together and taking a “family” portrait Maplewood is actually a picturesque, quaint, but “slightly backwards community”. I do take the people for granted as it is a community very rich in racial diversity, that’s one thing I do love about the area. Once known as South Orange Township before the name was changed to Maplewood in 1922, these Two Towns are still connected through our dual school district.
Picture of Maplewood Village
Something Quirky
So I had no problem stepping over into South Orange to find my quirky item because Maplewood won’t tolerate anything, other than the people, that would make visitors gaze in perplexity. This picture was not recently taken by me, but has always been one of my favorites and most intriguing.
I can’t explain this one, I’m not really sure who the victim is here, but since the tree is “alive” I’m going to say it’s the mailbox. If anyone can think of a reason of why these two should not be joined together…. They look quite happy together, don’t you think?
Something Old
Well for days I’ve tried to get a picture of this man, but I haven’t seen him in over a week. There’s an older gentleman, about 70 or 80 years old who lives on the same street as one of the high schools. His self-appointed job is to clean up everything that falls on the ground, sticks, branches, paper, flyers, wrappers, anything! He walks up and down the street with his cane and white bag picking up trash. It’s weird because he’s not wearing an orange vest. He is the norm to us, but visitors might find him weird.
Something Blue
The color of this house usually leaves people who pass it, perplexed. It’s a bit out of the norm and the first thing you see from the street. Even the locals stare, but after a while you get used to it.
On a side note, I found this interesting YouTube “documentary dealing with the complications that adolescents face in their town” and having no place to go after school. They put together this documentary about it, have a look!
Thanks Jay, this was fun and different! What’s going on in your neck of the woods, got weird? Post it.
Photo of Maplewood Village GNU Free Documentation License
Photo of the Hand by Walt Jabsco
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My name is Valerie aka Natural and I will be writing about whatever is on my mind. I love teaching, dialogue, sharing and making people laugh. I never know what I'll share here but this is me, Thinking Out Loud.
Hi Natural,
The mailbox and tree marriage is definitely quirky. And the bright blue house really stands out. That’s what I call originality in choice of paint colors.
Thanks for sharing a glimpse into your neck of the woods.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Links Show Love But Do We Click
I LOVE the mailbox and tree! That’s exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to see when I issued the challenge! Yay, You! The guy picking up - wonderful! The house isn’t half bad either.
The video about Maplewood… what can I say. It’s such a familiar, sad story. Looks like an affluent town, though, so no real excuse for not providing somewhere, I’d have thought? They seem like nice kids - at least the ones who made the vid - so it would be very sad if some became bored and disaffected and got into trouble for lack of guidance and some place to go.
wow. thats a great idea for a blog post /meme. I am a fan!
Love Maplewood.
Oh and I think the Mailbox & the Tree look very happy together!
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..How About No.
Maplewood seems to be a decent town. I wonder as to what happened to the old man. I hope that he is fine.
Shilpan
Shilpan | successsoul.coms last blog post..How to Get Most Out of Life: Be Decisive!
I’m quirky and definitely old and I have one blue sock on…I got dressed in the dark…:)))
Hey Barbara, why would anyone put a mailbox so close to a tree anyway?
Thanks Jay, I just came from the after dinner walk and I was still looking for stuff. Had my camera with me…the kids think the library is the club and make way too much noise..I rode by yesterday and a security guard (at a freaking library) was waving her finger to some of the kids. They don’t have anywhere to go. Maybe the parents don’t want them home, but they need to find them somewhere to hang out..sadly there’s nothing.
Alright Meleah, I’ll be looking for your quirky then.
Shilpan, I haven’t seen him..now I’m worried.
Well Mr. Bourne if you lived in my neck of the woods, I could’ve posted your picture. One blue sock? Is the other one black. I can’t tell the difference inside myself and surprised I haven’t made that mistake of wearing the same shoe in a different color. My mom has so it’s only a matter of time for me.
Naturals last blog post..Something Quirky, Something Old, Something Blue
What a cool idea for a post! I love the mailbox getting up close and personal with the tree.
I think every town has that guy who goes around cleaning up debris. And thank God. Hardly anyone thinks to do it.
I have to say that blue house hurts my eyes. I bet I’d get used to it over time, but at first sight it’s a real shocker.
Again, great idea for a post. Now I want to go looking for the quirky, the old and the blue.
Kathys last blog post..This is Not a Poo Picture
I looked at your other pics and they were so cool! I have a thing for that blue house. LOL
If I lived on the street with that blue house, I’d be so mad. Talk about an eye sore!!!
But Maplewood looks likes one of those storybook towns.
Jillians last blog post..Interlude: Greed, for Lack of a Better Word, is Good
Natural - I just did a spin off post from your Maplewood vid!
Thanks for liking my challenge/meme idea, Kathy and Meleah! And thanks to Natural for taking it up!
Go for it Kathy. I’d love to see what you come up with. I wish that old guy lived on my block and yeah the color of that house is “nice” but it doesn’t fit in and it “glows” from the main road.
Corrina, I peeped at your pics too…didn’t make it through the all the albums, but I will. I have to add some more pictures.
Jillian that house is different. There’s another one with a loud color on the other side of town..more wine color, but its beautiful..now a whole row of houses with color might look nice.
Jay, read your piece, fantastic post. I hope more people do the quirky/weird thing.
Naturals last blog post..Something Quirky, Something Old, Something Blue
I am going to try this one out next week.
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..Happy 60th Birthday To My Mom
Cheer to the old man. I used to do much the same up in Canada. I never went for a hike w/o bringing a bag for garbage. Fortunately there wasn’t ever much to pick up.
As for the blue house–I lived in one that was even brighter than that. Everyone in town knew about it–I once ordered a pizza for delivery & on giving directions to the place, they said, “Oh, the BLUE house?” *LOL*
meleah, i can’t wait to see what you’ve found. cool
is that right lana, you ever consider moving to new jersey? lol…that’s just down right nice of y’all to go cleaning up the place. i don’t know why people litter…
i bet you that house has that kind of status too. i didn’t see a house number, they probably just say the blue house.
Naturals last blog post..Something Quirky, Something Old, Something Blue