From ages 4 to 14 I spent my summers upstate with a group of
Russian Jewish hooligans, with a Polack or two thrown in for good measure.
DDE's mother recently purchased a bungalow colony there,
and we headed up for a reunion. As we passed the sign that proclaimed "Welcome
to Ulster Heighst", I could not help but wonder why we enjoyed summers without
TV, radio, phones, heat, spelling, cell reception, and internet access.
The four of us demonstrate various symptoms of mental fucktardation (l-r):
An enlarged tongue; laughing at inappropriate moments; lack of affect; everything
else that would signify retardation.
We weren't the only nostaligc ones; the residents of Ellenville pined for
the good ol' WWII days.
If you tie a plastic bag around her foot, Anna will do her impression of
the number 7.
We used to walk (literal) miles to buy candy at this store.
While the rest of the group tries to get the car unstuck from the mud, I
helpfully shot photons at it from my camera.
For some reason the steeple's cross withered and fell off when I walked
by this old church.
Many a weekend was spent at the Grand Union and newsstand, but the economy
in Ulster County is not what it was 12 years ago...
...as the local eateries could attest. (Not pictured: Hooverville)
Is this the most convincing warning sticker ever?
If we ever wanted to be faux rural, we turned off our sinks and pumped the
pump or filled gallon bottles at the spring.
I mention these super-creepy woods in Sovereign. Sadly, DDE got cut from
the novel.
The ground was always covered in spongy plants (and pre-plants).
The first time in many years I saw a live-for-only-a-day mayfly.
The name you trust in soy sauce is now the name you trust in soy sauce-flavored
wine.
Weepin Willies' rating was a perfect 30 in the Morlock Zagat's.
The X is where Big Richie and I watched a 90 year old demented woman slip
on the concrete. We looked at each other. "Wanna go play Nintendo?" he asked.
He always knew what to do under pressure.
Charon confirms that yes, they do have casual Friday on the river Styx.
The bridge is pulled away, leaving us stuck on this tiny man-made island
in this tiny man-made pond.
"Listen to our demands!"
"I already told you, I cannot give you the ability to read."
Makes you wonder how much of my urine is still in the water.
Agatha (2nd from left) decided to have an abortion purely on the merits
of this photo. As an aside, we all hated that Red Umbrella. I can't believe
it got invited!
