It’s a concept that captured my imagination when I was ten years old and my dad pointed out the imaginary line across the plains of western Kansas. If you’re driving west on I-70, you see the sign saying you’re entering Sherman County ~ and Mountain Time Zone. If you’re driving east on the same interstate, at that same point you are entering Thomas County ~ and Central Time Zone.
What if you lived on the east side of the line, I wondered, and you did something bad—or semi-bad, or anything you wish you hadn’t done—could you walk over the line to the west side, where it was an hour earlier, and “undo” what you’d done? My parents both said that was an interesting idea, but life didn’t work that way. Card laid, card played; no do-overs by stepping into a different time zone. Unless you’re Ray Bradbury…
The top picture of Bristol, “a good place to live,” is actually one town in two states, Virginia and Tennessee. With thanks to the Geico Insurance commercial, we even have a picture of the marker embedded in the middle of the main street; one side of the street is VA, and the other is TN. Hmm…can laws, codes and rules change with one step?
Oh, oh. What if it’s hunting season on the other side of the road?
October is AWARENESS MONTH, which shines a light on diseases and world health concerns. It also can include the awareness of general knowledge and self-awareness, knowing when something exists, has changed, has several meanings or applications, or needs more study.
In Kansas, Virginia, Tennessee, and life in general–both literally and figuratively speaking–it’s always wise to be aware of the facts before we put one foot over any line.
Things I Want To Tell My Mother 