Angelina's Garden

When you’re 13, its cool to go to sketchy places. Maybe its always cool to go to sketchy places. Finding something memorable in an abandoned space is an adventure that’s hard to turn down. So, when my 13 year old asked, “Can we go to the abandoned factory district?” I said, “Let’s go.”

We threw the scooter and the camera bag in the back of the truck and recruited a friend to join in the fun.

There is something rich about riding a scooter in a blighted area. I’m not sure what that’s about, but these photos demonstrate that it was done and people enjoyed it.

Definitely, it is glam to model-pose around vines and decaying walls.

Having a best buddy along makes the experience just perfect.

Near our place, there’s an area of broken down, burned out factories from a bi-gone era. Back when this town used to be a manufacturing hub for textiles and furniture, before that work was sent overseas, this area was thriving. People punched a clock here. Products were made, sold and shipped from these concrete slabs. Folks made a living working inside these once functional walls.

That is all gone now. Nothing left but vines, broken glass, trash and graffiti.

All that is attractive to a 13-year-old bored on a chilly, blue-sky kind of day when the rain stops for the first time in a week and the sun finally comes out. When that happens, doing anything outside with a friend sounds mighty fine. In the shadow of a decrepit water tower the sun feels warm on your cheek. And, inside the concrete grave of this once burgeoning mill, a weed bears fruit.

Ana, Gabe’s friend noticed, “Its interesting to see how all the buildings go back to the earth over time.”

In the dead of winter, through this sketchy space, with these teens, hope abides.