random thoughts – Day 1,603 – (Wednesday) – downtown street walking

Mollers Building.

The clouds broke during the morning and by 1:30 it was full-on in the face sunshine spilling from a bright summer blue sky. The decision to leave the sunglass clips on the table at home based on the many cloud icons in the phone weather app seemed like a foolish miscalculation as I squinted my way down Middle Street on a head-clearing walk.

Some things downtown have changed in the time since my last walkabout. There was a cluttered vintage shop on Central Street that used to have things displayed on the sidewalk in a cluster that might be mistaken for a missed trash pickup. The place is empty now, blank windows facing the street, everything gone except for the lettering on the building over the door and display window. It used to be fun to browse, but the absence of price tags kills it for me every time, whether it's a shop, art booth, or a yard sale.

Other things on the streets remain the same, for now anyway, like my favorite entryway awning with “Mollers” lettered above the white glass panels of alternating squares and pointed shapes which most certainly have an official geometric name I’m unaware of. The building used to be home to Mollers department store. For years I’ve admired the overhang and the plan was to replicate the edge design as a valance for my kitchen window. Of course, I still haven’t made the pattern, set up the glass grinder, or rounded up the tools to do the work, but I think about it every time I walk by there. Someday.

Canal reflections.

Other sights on the afternoon walk included massive canopies being taken down from the middle of Jackson Street, making me think I missed something fun. The water in the canals reflected the sky and nearby buildings. Window artwork that was done for Folk Fest still adorns the area. 

A sign in a lawn near a garage advertised a condo for sale, which seemed intriguing until I read the details. It's smaller than my house, but it looked nice in the photos and there would be no lawn to mow. It's right downtown, which has a certain appeal. It was the single line item disclosing the monthly condo fee of $744 that killed any further interest I might have had in it. Yikes. I may be in The BungaLowell forever.

Walking the streets downtown usually offers plenty to see. People just need to lift their eyes from the phone screens and check it out.