2 lane highway at sunset

as i drove home from Ithaca today, i drove down my new favorite road, ny route 52. it is a winding, hilly road that spans a few counties in upstate new york including ulster and sullivan.

it crosses over the mountains, runs near several short streams, many small towns, the Susquehanna river, railroad tracks and a multitude of little mountain resorts, log cabins and various country houses that are an eclectic collection of americana architecture.

today, as i drove up and over the mountains and into liberty, ny area- i was witness to what i can only guess is a summer ritual in a most bizarre setting.

route 52 cuts through the town and toward the outskirts there is a glint on the hillside. a silhouette of a water tower, something that looks like a massive complex of buildings....a prison. as i passed, the image became complete with red brick, barbed wire fences and guard towers. a inmate tended farm that includes an abundance of corn stalks, cows and a variety of other garden vegetables.

and then in a whiplash of cultures, there in the local park dedicated to a local judge, i caught a glimpse of a sea of girls dressed in light green shirts and black skirts. the swarm all had on the same clothes, dark hair, dark stockings and dark shoes and filed out of the 5 yellow school busses from local all girls' hassaidic camp to meet their patiently waiting parents. everyone seemed happy to see each and i am sure there was chatter of the week that had passed, the fun that they had, and the new friends that they met.

a clash of two worlds separated by a little 2 lane highway in the middle of sunset on an average summer monday.