Doing Time?

It's all in the details...it really and truely is! Because, if I summarized my weekend for you, it'd go something like this:

1. Went to prison
2. Got a parking ticket
3. Spent some time in the cemetary

Ended up in the demetia ward!

I was sorely tempted to post that list as a status update on Facebook...wonder what would have happened?

So, let's flesh out those details...

Phil, Denise, and I visited the Eastern State Penitentary in Philadelphia on Saturday. What a hauntingly beautiful and fascinating place. I need to head back there, complete with tripod sometime soon. On the other hand, I did manage to stay off automatic and fiddled with different modes and ISOs. Baby steps!

The prison was built in the early 1800s and closed in 1970. The officials nearly razed the place to make room for condos, but decided to keep it as a national resource.

It's a photographer's and artist's paradise with glorious textures and colors. A wonderfully descriptive narrative via headphones brought it all to life.

Look at the details in the railing supports; it's a cliche, I suppose, but they really knew how to build them back then!

Glorious fleeting light made us catch our breath in delight. Dad, I apologize for rolling my eyes every time you raved about the light; I get it now. I do.

Long narrow wings, cell after cell, each one with a hundred or so stories to tell. Al Capone stayed here; so did Pip, the dog, who supposedly killed the governor's wife's cat and did time, or so the legend goes. (The reality is most likely that Pip was a gift to someone here.)

As for the rest of the story...

2. We were so delighted to see an empty parking space, that none of checked out the sign stating it was one hour parking. Uh, oh. One of Philadelphia's finest left us a present.

3. Early today, we visited mom's grave, tidied it up a bit, and said hello to her.

4. I ended my stay visiting my dad in the dementia ward; not a great visit as he had both feet firmly entrenched in la la land. I did get a few smiles, rubbed his back, and had him say, "That's the best feeling in the world." I wonder what he might have said if he knew his two oldes had "done time."

 

Comments

[Kim Mailhot]

That's quite a mixed bag of weekend adventures, Paula. Glad you has a fun playmate in the slammer!
Hugs to you!

[seabluelee]

Paula, you're right, that listed needed some 'splainin'. Your prison photos are wonderful. What a fascinating place - I'm glad it wasn't torn down, though it appears to be crumbling to dust anyway.

[Sherry]

A varied weekend...but one I can tell you enjoyed very much. And while your father was in la la land while you were there you did get that "that's the best feeling in the world" while rubbing his back. It's about connection isn't it, and even if he didn't know who you were or who he was even, you connected by touch. That itself is a blessing. xo

[becky]

Ah! now I see where you were. :) Sounds like a great visit, all told.