So, how's about we take a drive in the country? I visited a town nearby I have frequently heard of but never visited before. I shall call it the town of Italian Villa, for the Italianate style dominates the homes there. That's not a bad thing. If a person wants variety there is a large Tudor style restaurant in the middle of the village. Some of them were really quite ostentatious. I'm reminded of my own town, which is predominantly Queen Anne, also known as Gothic Revival gone to a party where it has passed out drunk and been painted by its so-called friends. We have a few Italianates too. A few Greeks.
But down that-a-way where I was there is a grubby little town which is chock full of run-down Greek Revival houses, badly needing paint. Or a roof, in some cases. And these aren't your Greek detailed houses; these are the real thing, four over four, two story front porch with Doric pillars. Cool. My son wants to buy the church. It's for sale. The whole town should be for sale. I would buy it and paint it.
If I were a rich man - yeidel deedle deidle dum...
Anyhoo, I came out pretty far from where I reckoned I would. About 20 miles from where I thought I'd end up. I think one of those roads was in a mood. It happens. Roads get into moods. Sure they do.
The valley I saw looked too familiar. The hills were too high. They were mountain foothills rather than the glacier-leavings that characterize the area I had only just visited. Well, technically-speaking the Catskills are a plateau which has eroded to give it the appearance of a mountain range. I suppose 'real' mountains are volcanic. Well, pardon me I'm sure.
But the valley should have been one I have never seen before. Instead, I realized I was looking at the mighty Susquehanna, and that's all Interstate driving. Who wants to do that? Peeing out-of-doors is a very special thing. I'd hate it to become ordinary. I know a fellow who pees outdoors more than indoors. I don't get that. For me the thrill would be gone in no time. But the only reason I could think to get on the Interstate was to pee at the rest stop, so never mind the Interstate.
I'm glad I chose to continue exploring the hills on the west side of the river. I found a new lake. It must have appeared during that strange dream I had a few weeks ago. There was a lovely stone house on its bank. No one was home; it was without window panes. Just a simple cottage. That's all I want. Indoor plumbing optional.
Is everybody reading this exactly where he or she wishes to be? Or do you dream of something else - like a cottage on a little lake? Do you look at your wife or husband and try to imagine he is someone else? Or dead?
Dead's good. An innocent mishap, a sinister accident, a fluke. A striped bass. Or disappeared. Yes, vanished. Like Fortunato bricked into the wall, ringing his pathetic bells.
I like to drive in the country. I wish I had a camera. I should buy one. My friend the photographer used to hijack me to go out and take pictures, but we didn't see together the same kinds of things I see when I'm alone. That's the problem with other people. They insist on seeing things a certain way. She would appreciate the architecture - to a point. And getting lost was never a problem. It's good to get lost. It's impossible to get lost. That is, it's impossible to get really lost because if you know you're lost you're not lost.
There's a place not far from here that no one has ever successfully managed to leave. The trouble is every road out is also the road in. So the citizens of that place have divided it into sections with different names. That way they can feel as though they've gone somewhere else without really going anywhere. It's a nice place. You can see it from any hill top, volcanic or otherwise.
Well I knew a girl who used to always talk about this Italianate house she said she owned in that particular town I am calling Italian Villa. I never knew for sure, but I think it was really her estranged husband who owned it, or his family even. Who can tell? But I thought of her. I hadn't thought of her for years. If she really did have an Italianate that would have been the place for it.
I think I'd better go grab a picture.
