Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Thematic Photographic # 219 Somewhat worse


Welcome to

Thematic Photographic
Carmi, from Written Inc. blog has posted our theme for this week as
 
Somewhat worse for wear

"The world is a tough, often dangerous place. It'll knock you and your precious things this way and that, turning you and them from pristine to worn in a never-ending process of erosion, destruction and decay. No sense lamenting it, mind you, as this is the way the world is supposed to work." - Carmi Levy

- and so with that thought in mind, (and in the time of a lunch hour) I drove not far from me
and while I
reflected on
 the raging storm which attacked places along the eastern coast, and the falling of the HMS Bounty, my attention was drawn to


Our economy
was once a bubble
"Then it burst"

and here we are.


SOMEWHAT WORSE FOR WEAR


The business world's a scene of changes-

Some good?
More- not so good.



A bleak shadow has fallen upon what once were lively scenes-
before so many business owners finally surrendered




 This long time old friend.....
 
 
What once was a place for eating and meeting- no longer is.
 
 
 Permanently? Seriously?


 
In the burbs- our quaint little neck of the woods- about 25 miles from Minneapolis- this restaurant was always a thriving success-
Although it changed hands through the years- it was still always running and serving.


 
Here sits our long time weathered neighborhood hardware store, which jumped across the street (during the bubble) and rebuilt- bigger and better - but normally an empty place of business would never sit idle without someone snapping it up.
 
 
 
 
 
 Ford Motor Company - had the right idea- they cut back, regrouped and combined their forces, but to the loss of some once thriving buildings.

Only Ford had the better idea, in our failed economy.


 
Suddenly there was a large number of folks without jobs
so they opened their own little Ma and Pa places of business.
 
For awhile it was like wild fires- people and ideas, taking up in fallen places - striving for something in the market.
But those failed as well.


"The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything." - Edward John Phelps 1-24-1899
Speech




What once held brand new and shiny vehicles- now a sea of weeds.




"Follow your own bent no matter what people say." Karl Marx
and every other successful business.


Funny thing is - just across the corner from this abandoned business location

sits one long time family-neighborhood (started in a corn field) Chevy dealership
that now also is Dodge, Ram and Kia dealerships as well.
Besides the endless supply of other used cars.
Want a Mini-Cooper?

and they are thriving- and rebuilding, by adding on more to their already gigantic dealership! 


 
 
"We Win!"


I seem to remember some where along my days on earth-
it isn't always about the winning........ right?




 
Recognize this big box fast food stop - CLOSED- Out of Business!
 
 
 
 
 
"There are two worlds; the world that we can measure with line and rule,
and the world that we feel with our hearts." Leigh Hunt
 
 
 
It's not, just the strong that survive.
 
 
 
 
 For more Somewhat worse for wear posts
go here
 
 
 
 
and in this moment of reflection- I know you must have a photo of your own you wish to bring to TP!
 
Let me come visit you too!
 
 
 

20 comments:

Little Nell said...

It's the same everywhere now. Here the building boom of 6 or 7 years ago stalled, and there are shells of villas all over the island. Lots of people out of work. So sad.

Bob Scotney said...

I think I could match most of these just by visiting the two 'large' towns within 1o miles of us. You builds have yet to deteriorate though; after that they really will look grim.

Alexia said...

A sobering post indeed, Karen. Bob's right, things are the same all over; but when you pick examples out and put them all together like this, the impact is heightened.

Thank you for this careful and thought-provoking selection.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Last spring I hiked with my pups through the business park I used to work...before three-thousand (or more) jobs were lost/moved to India.

Buildings half-built.

Completed buildings never occupied.

Depressing.

I didn't have a buzz going, but I had, this post would have killed it. *weak smile*

sage said...

an interesting collection of photos that make me sad...

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

Yes, it seems that your photos could have been taken from other places around the country...I see similar, once thriving stores, now empty shells...it is sad to see and wonder about all those that were employed in them.

Blessings & Aloha!
Thank you so much for stopping by my last post! I hope you get a chance to stop again and see some of the coin purses that I sewed for the Blog Hop. Oh, and this week, I post some news that is so X-citing for our family :o)

Lisa Shafer said...

Oh, these are sad. :(

Cloudia said...

Our economy is coming back, but must be built upon middle class prosperity for ALL of us, not bubbles and deals as before.

We must go FORWARD, not back to the ways that got us to this.

Wishing YOU prosperity and peace with
Aloha from Waikiki, my Friend
Comfort Spiral

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21 Wits said...

Yes, I thought this was a bit bleak, but it's truth, sadly. But! Things are coming back somewhat... and today I shot a few more happier somewhat worse for wear- that I promise will life your spirts- in a good way!

Dzjiedzjee said...

Indeed, it looks a little depressing. Crisis hits hard I guess...? :-(

momto8 said...

the pictures illustrate more than words why our vote counts.

Galen Pearl said...

Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Especially from that dog's jaws!

Gilly said...

Sad lot of photos, but like everyone else says, its the same all over.

:(

Max Sartin said...

Sad, but well done, pictures. I know the feeling of a business gone sour, just hope all those people found something better, or as good, afterwards.

darlin said...

Karen it's so sad to see all of the businesses which have close up for good, so many jobs lost and families without work. My heart goes out to all of those going without, it seems even during recessions here in Alberta nobody seems to hardly notice it. There's a non stop flow of money which comes from the oil industry, but at what cost is what I often question.

Fantastic post, it sure bring me to a place of gratitude when I realize just how fortunate I am. And you're so right, it's not just the strong who survive. There's the one song which just popped into my head "I get by with a little help from my friends"... and that I do from time to time.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Snowcatcher said...

Heartbreaking. What a moving and poignant post. Unfortunately, I think this view is reflected in far too many communities across the US.

JJ said...

There is hope.

Unknown said...

Very well presented!

Anonymous said...

That's depressing. In Holland a lot of office buildings are empty (and still new ones are being developed). I guess your photos show why Romney has a point, although Obama may have helped saving Ford (politics is confusing). Losing your job, or starting an enterprise and failing, is devastating.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Very good, Karen.

The truth is not always what we want it to be, but we need to know it.
~