For those who travel the path around the Falls using an internal GPS, Monday morning was the appointment for the semiannual recalibration.
Some travelers are clueless to the points of a compass. Maybe familiarity comes with orienteering activities in the Scouting program. Compass reading may be part of the geography curriculum at a few different grade levels, but it’s not part of any state or national standardized test, as far as we can tell.
Given the fact that many vehicles come with some sort of digital compass, even if they don’t have a GPS system, it’s much less critical if an individual has an internal GPS.
For the directionally gifted (or compulsive, depending on one’s perspective,) knowing where north, south, east and west are can be almost an obsession. That brings us to Monday’s recalibration. Monday was the celebration of the autumnal equinox. No, this was not part of a plot to add new national holidays that might be labeled “Obamadayoff,” but rather one of only two days during the year when the tilting of the Earth is such that the equator is in alignment with the Earth’s pattern for revolution around the sun.
Anyone crossing an east-west road a little before 7 a.m. was able to look straight east and follow the center line of the road to see that red sunrise. That was the mental resetting of that internal GPS.
Speaking of GPS guidance, none was needed Saturday in Abrams for the annual Abrams Day parade. The parade started in the Abrams Elementary parking lot, headed west for a couple of blocks, made a sharp, left-hand turn around the post office, and then headed toward the flyway, where events were centered.
It would have been difficult for anyone in the parade to get lost. It was a beautiful day for the event. For a small community, there was a fairly good-sized crowd. The crowd was treated to lots of candy and a number of other giveaways. The team from the Shell station gave away American flags to add a patriotic flavor to the event.
The daylong list of activities included a rummage sale hosted by Abrams staff and the parent group. Their location, in the Methodist Church that had been purchased by the school district back in January 2009, drew a number of visitors. Some came because they had been past members of the congregation. They shared stories of experiences and significant events in the building. Some wanted mementos before the building was removed to make way for the new entrance and parking lots for Abrams School.
Others came for some of the surplus items that had come from school storage. Even the lonely eight-track player that sat for years found a happy new owner. The multiple pane storm windows from the outside of the building proved to be very popular. In some cases, as soon as one came down for a buyer, another was sold, and the guy with the screwdriver had to climb back up the ladder to remove another.
Several beautiful wood doors found new homes.
Some of the more interesting items were the ceiling-mounted exit lights. One youngster wanted one for his room. Then his sister thought she should have one. Now they have a matching set. Just before they left, they spotted another by a basement exit, but Dad said they would have to pass on that one.
There were lots of questions about the massive bell that hung silently in the bell tower for many years before the congregation closed. The bell had a 32-inch diameter at the bottom and was more than 36 inches high. A few pictures were on display to spark some interest. Because of the many suggestions for its use and the number of people who were interested in it, the bell will be sold by sealed bids as noted on the sign next to the pictures. Four bids came in Saturday.
The cast iron bell came from Cincinnati, where it was cast some time before 1910. Some years ago the church switched to an electronic bell system with speakers on the top of the bell tower. The bell was still in working order, although the rope to ring it was concealed above a small access door. It was rung a few times Saturday.
For some, it must have brought back memories of a time when the sound of a bell, rather than an internal GPS system, was used to provide direction for travel on a Sunday morning.
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