Road sign: "Jealous? Only of your time" (missing)

What I loved more than anything today was seeing the tire markings on the damp gravel by the side of the road. You can always tell when someone really hits the gas to make it back onto the highway. It's not necessarily even a busy road there at Anderson Hill, so merging at high speeds isn't really necessary. But it seemed to be with whomever got back on the road that morning. I have to think that it was you.

Leaving signs is a natural thing to do. Ever since man became mobile and started making his way around in the world he had to figure out how to mark his way. I think that it's instinctive that we leave signs and marking to show the world where we've been. Others have found it equally important to tell us where to go and how to get there, but that's not where I've been going with my signage. I am using that medium as my sort of "Kilroy was here", my take on the marking the sky with smoke from the tail end of my barnstorming craft.

I have to admit it's tedious work at times coming up with just the right message that works. Not too long, not too bold, something that looks and feels as if it belongs to the world and not just you. I like the more cryptic messages I've been leaving behind, one's referring to the Gala or Calcopo or birding, like the "So, tell me, what have you fed your chickadees today?" I love when they manage to stay up for a week or so, but I love it even better when "the wind" tears them down.

I went by today to take a look at my most recent "posting". The bird poster lasted a day before it succumbed to "the weather". I felt that it must have been awfully easy to tear it off it's moorings that day, as it was wet and it had been raining for days. It would have been a quick scramble up the slope and a easy tear down. What, a half a minute?

But today, man! I went by to see what the wind storm brought me and it completely and totally took that sign away! Not even a stick remained! All that was left was that sign in the gravel that said you were there, and that you left with a mighty burst of speed! I like to think that it was a emotionally fueled moment. I wonder what trash can that sign went into? Good sticks are hard to come across.

So, just as any good graffitti artist would know, if someone removes your work you just find another surface and move on. We all have things to share in this world. Some folks paint gorgeous canvases, some write incredible novels. Some open fabulous restaurants, other climb mountains, run corporations or make the world a safer and better place to live. Me? I like to think I provide great library service, know how to share a table with my friends, have a discerning eye and ear for art, beauty and grace, and most of all, know how to be loyal, on time and kind.

That loyalty comes with a price. That loyalty isn't so much worn on my sleeve, as much as it lived. Those signs by the side of the road a small indication of that ongoing, somewhat meritless, always passionate, forever burning, generally fruitless loyalty I have towards you.

Today, though, I found a bit of fruit by the side of the road. For me to make you so furious that you would peel off like that says that somehow you are not detached from those words that I leave behind by the side of the road. That placard being gone was a sign of sorts from you to me. How grand!

Pissed off, immersed, angry, sullen, sad, whatever, it doesn't matter to me, it was enough to know I connected with my audience. Like any successful ad man will tell you, finding the audience and making them emote is where it's at. I found you, my audience, today, and I am glad.

Your WHMB