The weekend before I left Boston, I wandered around my favorite stationary store, and was utterly captivated by one postcard. It was not flashy or funny or any of the attributes that usually make me linger on an image. But as I tried to pull myself away, to look around the store, the postcard kept drawing me back, like a sad, grey magnet. On the back of the card it revealed to be a German company. I took it as a sign from the universe, and finally shelled out the 70 cents to purchase it.
Now it hangs on my wall, amidst places I've lived or visited, cards from relatives or friends, and a few inspirational quotes. And it sticks out a bit--where the other images are charming/happy/funny/inspirational and/or hold dear memories, this one stands as an odd homage to uneasiness.
Something about the grey unknown in this woman's view--it's terrifying, but also beautiful. This sort of sublime awe in the inevitability of being completely wrapped in, drenched in, overtaken by future ambiguity.
The future. And the unknown.
Two very scary prospects for humans all around. They're sort of one in the same. I think we'll always be afraid of the unknown and of the future, and I think maybe we can embrace the fear. Dive in, as this brave old woman is on the brink of doing.
What do you think? Is this image as beautiful to you as it was to me?
