Our family had an impromptu get together at my parent’s house on Saturday. Since I’ve had this developing case of “cabin fever”, I had decided that I’d take some pictures after the depressing Louisville loss on ESPN.
As a kid, I lived in the woods behind our house growing up. I had remembered a “path” that used to go from our house through the woods to the gravel pits about a quarter mile away further down Elpis Road. When I say “path” I more or less am referring to a few property line markers that used to “point” you in the right direction. So, I figured why not? I had made this trek a hundred times, albeit 25 years ago. With tripod, camera and boots, I headed out.
The Back 40 - 3/7/2010
Well, things looked very different from 25 years. I wandered along and eventually drifted off course. You’ll notice that I did not include a GPS with the description of the equipment I took with me. After about 45 minutes (and a few pictures here and there) I decided to head back toward the house — just had to follow the sun.
As I made my way back toward the house, I noticed that areas once clear, now grown dense and other areas where trees had been cut down. As I looked up, I saw this fence. I thought to myself, “where the hell did that come from” being out in the middle of the woods.
The Back 40 - 3/7/2010
I continued to make my way toward it and was checking out the layout when out of nowhere this huge ass dog showed up with snout, teeth and paws sticking through the fence openings. I kid you not, I almost shit myself. I leaned away from the fence, but my feet were wedged in the melting snow and I wound up on my ass, camera in hand looking up at something out of Cujo.
Along the way I had drifted off toward my dad’s neighbor — two lots down. I made my way up toward the house with a lot of adrenaline pumping through me. Combined with a quickened pace (not just because of the dog but also because of a phone call indicating to get back to house) and the fairly daunting challenge of sinking through the snow every other step, I finally returned to the back yard — breathing a little hard I might add.
Of course the family was glad to see me: “Where the hell have you been?” “Come on, supper’s ready!” “…taking pictures in the God damn woods …”
The Back 40 - 3/7/2010