Hagrid Is Going Places

I was did a small series called Hagrid is Going Places. I had the lego Hagrid in my coat pocket and then my purse for months (he's still in my purse actually), and I would occasionally take him out and take his picture! I may get into it again. In the mean time, here are the pictures.

On my brother's new truck

On my novel

In front of an aquarium at the dentist (I should of put him in the chair!)

Restaurant in Port Huron, MI (Kate's Downtown)

At a restaurant in Fenton, MI (The Laundry)

Think I should do more? If I do, I'll make the shots from further away, give a better sense of location and environment, which is most of the fun!

Oh, The People You'll Meet

I met her in England, in an elderly home where they laughed and played games, had parties every week, and their own rooms with windows to a garden. She sat in bed surrounded by faded post cards and letters pinned to the wall, a vase of yellow flowers and a stack of well read books with half a glass water on her bedside. When we walked into the room she looked up from staring at nothing, a smile grew wide on her face, eyes shining, and life breathing into her sagging skin. I smiled back, reflex of the contagion, we hadn't met but we knew each other. 

I relaxed, at ease with my husband and father-in-law, we circled her bed and kissed cheeks in hello. There were brief introductions of courtesy, no one remembers them now. No, I remember the black and white post cards from Africa and Russia filled with missings and reminiscings in shaky cursive. A love letter gone soft and frail to touch, I had to step away or I would have stroked the blue letters and watch the paper fall, the love in the years disintegrating at my touch. 

Watching me, she begins to tell of her travels, the times and parts of her life she holds most dear. Walking the Great Wall of China, riding an elephant through the forests of India, living under the open sky of Kenya, shoes covered in the sand of the pyramids, scaling Volcanos in New Zealand, making wine in Italy, and hiking the great expanse of Russia. And in between, being a nurse during WWII, getting married and raising kids. 

Her life was amazing, like a book filled with endless adventures while waiting for a sequel. She found adventure in everything. Every day, she said, someone visited her now and she remembered a place she had been, a drink she had had with a friend. I asked her thoughts on America, had she been there. "Oh," she said, "I would never want to go to such a place." I smiled and nodded my head as if I understood She hadn't realized where I was from, but it didn't matter, I didn't mind.  I knew then she hadn't experienced all there was, she hadn't grown as much as I thought she would have from seeing so much of the world. She was another person, amazing, with astounding stories, yes, but human just the same. 

Yukaton River: Edit

Name: Yukaton River.

Commonly known as: Ash River or The Dead River.

History: Hundreds of years ago the largest town of the area, Rim, lived along off Yukaton River's widest point.  Mysteriously, and suddenly, the town burned to the ground. It is said cracking and popping of fire and the screams of the inhabitants could be heard on any given June 13th at 11:15 PM.

Legend: Ashes of the people mixed with ashes of the town blew into the river. Blackened and thick, heavy with the ash of the dead, the river slowed until finally it stopped. With the river filled and stilled, trees and plants withered and died, and animals fled. Soon after, everything grew back tenfold. Lush and deep green, the trees grew tall, leaned in, and created a dense canopy over the river.

Today it is eerily clear and deadly still. Yet if you set a boat upon its surface, it will move south at a quick pace, as if a strong current had taken hold. It is believed spirits of the dead protect those who travel upon the river. But if they disembark before the river reaches its destination at Tamishi Sea, great bad luck will befall them. They will not survive their next 48 hours.

Pen (whose name is Penelope but finds it cumbersome, shortens it as much as possible, and does the same to others) and Timothy (whose name Pen actually likes and only calls him Tim on occasion) go to the ruins of Rim on June 13th. They arrive precisely at 11:15 PM. 

Pen and Tim hear strange howls and creaks from the large trees settling with the wind.

Natives help the pair lower a large, fully packed canoe that sleeps two, into Ash River. Luggage piled high, the boat sits deep. They rest at midnight.

The canoe, The Blessed Express, is named to give safe voyage to those aboard and thanks to the blessed spirits who guard the river. The nearby town nicknamed the boat Be in reference to the Beatles song Let it Be. 

The town doesn’t have much in the way of modern technology, only what visitors give them. One of their most prized possessions was a gift from a set of sisters who traveled there many years ago; a record player. Though they don't much, they dance and sing. They especially love vinyls of The Beatles, as there is an abundance of their music. They have a fascination with the western world and often consider it to be a place of fantasy. They frequently put on small plays with rag dolls accompanied with tunes of Hey Jude and Paperback Writer to depict the strange magical realm they imagine.

The following morning the entire town congregates, blesses, and stocks The Blessed Express with their food, love, and prayer. They hide painted beads of glass and clay, dried plants, and purple flowers among the couple’s luggage and within the cracks of the boat's panels.

A grand farewell party takes place.

© Ash Huntley

Road Trip

Husband and I drove from northern metro Detroit to Gatlinburg in Tennessee. The furthest either of has ever driven. We left our home at 5:30 am and arrived around 3:45 pm to the welcome desk and at 4:00 pm we walked through the door of our cabin. That's a ten and a half hour trip (thanks to the stops and breaks). I am nervous about the drive back, it's supposed to snow and rain the entire time through each state. I do not want the trip to be any longer!

We were going to explore places on our way back, but that might not happen due to exhaustion and weather. But, that's ok. Because we have had an amazing time. The drive was something new for us and it was fun even if it was long and tiring. Being here is amazing too. The view is breath taking, the town is insane, and the experience is one of a kind.

I want to be inspired to write, but it's so tough when I'm overwhelmed and feel the pressure to WANT to have something to say. I know it will be a great thing to think back on. Which is good enough for me. Ok, it's not, I want to write now, haha.

I want to share with you the great names of things we saw along the way.

TOWNS:

• Erie Temperance (my favorite, though I will change it to Eerie for a story)
• Lucky Haskins
• Bluffton
• Lima Unioplois
• Botkins
• Piqua
• Siebenthaler

ROADS:

• Blue Lick Rd
• Needmore Rd
• Stinking Creek Rd
• Man O'War 

BUILDING

• GROB

Which is your favorite? I'm going to have to use a lot of these in some stories!