T
TN-Ward-Fan
Guest
I don't know about any of you guys, but I consider myself a nature lover. The sounds of the birds, squirrels, a fresh breeze blowing through the trees, the smell of a rain...I love it all.
IronMan28 (my significantly cuter other) and I live, as most of you know, at the base of the Appalachian Mountains. Here we are surrounded by the splendor of the natural world. We try to take every opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.
Last Sunday afternoon, as the race was rain delayed, we decided to go exploring. We drove up a back road to the top of a mountain a few miles from the house. When we got there, a marvelous surprise awaited us. There, in a small level clearing, was a picnic shelter with a covered fireplace-type grill, numerous picnic tables, restrooms, a couple of hiking trails, even the outlet of an underground spring. There was not another soul around, and we spent an enjoyable hour or so just marveling at the beauty all around us.
Now, here is the source of my (latest) confusion. Why is it that some people feel the need, whenever they are in the outdoors, to carve their @$^@^%#!@$ initials into something? This covered shelter was obviously many years old, built with hewn logs and piled stone. The logs had been painted a deep brown to blend with the area as much as possible. Everywhere on these logs were scratches and scrawlings, most of which proclaimed "BR"s love for "PT" or some such. And of course the occasional tribute to Pink Floyd or whomever, and a few brave souls actually leaving thier full names. And believe it or not, I have seen the same crap on historic buildings, in places like the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I'm talking about original cabins restored painstakingly to preserve living history!
I know that in the grand scheme of things this is pretty trivial, but I personally have never felt the overwhelming need to document my presence in such a manner. Nothing quite adds to the natural splendor of nature like the adding of one's initials to the view. I know it's probably kids in one chemically altered state or another, but I can't believe all of it is. If you have teenagers, please point these scrawls out when you get the chance, and make it a point to get them to see how ugly and unnecessary it is. If by some chance you yourself are one of the carvers, quit it please. You are not the last person who will visit the area, and those of us who come after you really are not impressed.
(Climbs down off his soapbox now to ingest a few Cheez-Its.)
IronMan28 (my significantly cuter other) and I live, as most of you know, at the base of the Appalachian Mountains. Here we are surrounded by the splendor of the natural world. We try to take every opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.
Last Sunday afternoon, as the race was rain delayed, we decided to go exploring. We drove up a back road to the top of a mountain a few miles from the house. When we got there, a marvelous surprise awaited us. There, in a small level clearing, was a picnic shelter with a covered fireplace-type grill, numerous picnic tables, restrooms, a couple of hiking trails, even the outlet of an underground spring. There was not another soul around, and we spent an enjoyable hour or so just marveling at the beauty all around us.
Now, here is the source of my (latest) confusion. Why is it that some people feel the need, whenever they are in the outdoors, to carve their @$^@^%#!@$ initials into something? This covered shelter was obviously many years old, built with hewn logs and piled stone. The logs had been painted a deep brown to blend with the area as much as possible. Everywhere on these logs were scratches and scrawlings, most of which proclaimed "BR"s love for "PT" or some such. And of course the occasional tribute to Pink Floyd or whomever, and a few brave souls actually leaving thier full names. And believe it or not, I have seen the same crap on historic buildings, in places like the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I'm talking about original cabins restored painstakingly to preserve living history!
I know that in the grand scheme of things this is pretty trivial, but I personally have never felt the overwhelming need to document my presence in such a manner. Nothing quite adds to the natural splendor of nature like the adding of one's initials to the view. I know it's probably kids in one chemically altered state or another, but I can't believe all of it is. If you have teenagers, please point these scrawls out when you get the chance, and make it a point to get them to see how ugly and unnecessary it is. If by some chance you yourself are one of the carvers, quit it please. You are not the last person who will visit the area, and those of us who come after you really are not impressed.
(Climbs down off his soapbox now to ingest a few Cheez-Its.)
