Sunday, March 27, 2005

Dude, What's Your Deal With Eggshelland?

So glad you asked. Shortly after Toni and I hooked up we discovered our mutual passion for roadside attractions. Not because they are cheesy. Not because they are cheap. Not for some arrogant, cooler-than-thou reason.

No. We love them because the very best of them are the creation of ordinary people, operating out of their own self-interest, to make their mark on the world. A person says "I made this" and we want to see it.

I had been living on the East Side for several years and I had seen the "This Way to Eggshelland" signs and ignored them. Toni moved here in mid-March, 1995 and the minute she saw one she asked what it was. And so she led me to Eggshelland.

photo: Connie and Toni in 2001

One of the first, outdoor things we did after Calvin was born was to visit Eggshelland. It is a sign of spring. Something to look forward to. A family on a cul-de-sac in Lyndhurst puts out mosiacs of cartoon characters in eggshells sprayed with car paint to celebrate Easter. What's not to freaking love?

1 comment:

justinian said...

A roadtrip is in order as soon as you folks are able to swing it. http://www.heidelberg.org/ is not only a roadside attraction, it's an entire road! The chap who runs the place is a gem of a man, the vision forward thinking, well worth a weekend day of your time.

Or, http://www.eccentricamerica.net/ which I hope to plan an entire cross country roadtrip around. Somehow, someway.

Then again, there's always some kind of freak show in Ohio City, where you are always welcome.

Be well - enjoy your weekend.