Before we go along too far, I need to say something about attribution.  The photographs which I am liberally sprinkling throughout these missives are from my collection - many of them saved digitally with no record of their source - my bad.  If I use one of your photos, please alert me and I will add attribution, assuming you're cool with me using your creation!

The Future

When I finally arrive there—
And it will take many days and nights—
I would like to believe others will be waiting
and might even want to know how it was.

So I will reminisce about a particular sky
or a woman in a white bathrobe
or the time I visited a narrow strait
where a famous naval battle had taken place.

Then I will spread out on a table
a large map of my world
and explain to the people of the future
in their pale garments what it was like—

how mountains rose between the valleys
and this was called geography,
how boats loaded with cargo plied the rivers
and this was known as commerce,

how the people from this pink area
crossed over into this light-green area
and set fires and killed whoever they found
and this was called history—

and they will listen, mild-eyed and silent,
as more of them arrive to join the circle,
like ripples moving toward,
not away from, a stone tossed into a pond.

by Billy Collins, from Aimless Love

Denise Hofflund Punnett, wife of our brother John, recently shared with us this YouTube video from 1940.

The photo below is one of the Kingstown market.  It predates me, but I can't hazard a guess as to when it might date back to - anyone?