In the Background

Maybe I'm just experiencing Facebook photo overload, but lately I find myself taking in the backgrounds of photos as well as the subjects.

Grandma S. at a cousin's wedding

For example, one of the guys I follow is John Skrtic, a researcher at Cleveland Public Library, who posts a lot of old photos of our city. 

As well as taking in the 1912 photo of the Euclid Arcade, for example, I tried to read the signs in the windows of neighboring buildings. I took note of the combination horse-driven and horsepower vehicles in the street. And looked for pedestrians to see what they were wearing.

Maybe I've picked this up from Mr. Ginley. When we watch DVDs, he will stop when he sees someone reading a newspaper to see what the headline reads. If there are books on the shelf behind the actor, he will pause to see the titles. 

As I've mentioned before, one of my favorite FB places is a hometown memories/nostalgia site. There I've discovered that Christmas cardboard fireplaces were more prevalent that I'd thought. That we weren't the only kids to receive a life-size Yogi the Bear punching bag from Santa. And that window "snow" stencils were a tradition in other homes besides ours.

Seeing women in bouffant hairdos and guys in crewcuts is entertaining, but what about that crazy wall hanging in the background? Is that a floor-stand ashtray? Do you remember those cat clocks, the ones with the eyes and tail that tick-tocked the minutes away?

Maybe it's boredom. Or a sign of old age. 

I prefer to think of it as honing my powers of observation.

There are times when I wonder what the next generation will think when they look at my photos.

In all likelihood, they will simply wonder why we took so many pictures of the cat. 

But maybe, just maybe, they will be amazed by all the books in the background. 

Assuming by that time books are still cherished for their soulful tactile qualities, as well as the words they contain.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. There's nothing like sticking your nose in an old library book and inhaling. 

I'll never get that kind of rush from an e-book.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to chase some kids off my lawn.