The worst feeling.

As I am on my travels, I can't help but see all the little towns around me and feel bad. A lot of the little cities I've been to have so much potential. I think to myself, if only this town had more funds and people who cared, it could turn into something wonderful! The town that my editor grew up in is a perfect example. The town rests right on the interstate, so it has plenty of hotels, gas stations, and fast food restaurants. It has a few neat places that tourists can visit, like Route 66 and a dinosaur museum where my editor used to volunteer for the majority of his teen years. However, the rest of the town is in shambles. A very close friend said his dad would look at my car, which is in need of repair, so we took it to his shop. This old abandoned store/restaurant/garage was his place of business. The garage part is perfect for his auto shop, it even looks big enough to fit a small plane in. . . but the rest of it. . . 

My editor's friend took us to a back room of the old store that was filled with old bookshelves and thousands of old books. Some in stacks, some in boxes, some on the shelves. It was like a scene from a video game set in a post apocalyptic world. Most of the books were in poor condition, being exposed to the elements for so long. My mind immediately made the jump to going and grabbing a wheelbarrow with cleaning supplies and spending the next few days cleaning the place up. I still want to do it. I would love to spend all of the daylight hours going through this little library and trying to make something of it. Heck, I am sure if he wanted, the owner of the building could clean some of the old furniture and appliances and sell them for very little, and still make a good profit. 

In small towns like that, there isn't a lot to do. I always thought to myself, if only they had a rec center  or some kinda of community gathering place, maybe life there wouldn't be so bad. The problem with that, besides where the funds would come from, would be the people. Who would build it? Who would work and maintain it? I know for a fact, that people in small towns like this have nothing better to do but to take advantage of places like that and destroy them. There have been so many projects like this before and it's great until someone comes along and ruins it for everyone. After something tragic like that happens, people get discouraged and don't want to waste their time. 

This feeling of helplessness Is possible the worst thing to experience. I wish I could do something, but what good would it do if no one wants to take the time to help fix it! Take the time. . . That's it!

This may be the result of years of effort gone to waste or a consequence of advanced technology letting us focus more on ourselves, but I think the problem is that people just don't care anymore. "Why should I help or what good will it do me now?" I imagine those are the questions people ask when someone wants to change the way the world is. There is an epidemic of apathy that has consumed too many people of all generations. I wish there was something more that I could do about it, but it is nearly impossible to convince people to change. 

My only hope is that my words will reach someone, so that all my effort won't go to waste. I also hope that my art will inspire people. And most of all, I want people to learn to be happy, even if they don't have a lot. 

Ok. I'll get off my soap box now. 

This is from a hike that I go on every two years with my family. This place is very special to us, especially to my father. This is one of the most beautiful places and I love going, although, I'd never actually go in that lake. It's freezing and very deep. . . and I don't really like big water. . . at all.