In 2022 I sent a postcard from this city to the library I worked at. It was a vintage image of a surrealistic scene of The Reserve, which is a restaurant and an outcropping of rock just past the port area of this city. In the old black and white photograph there was an old sailboat perched on this table of rock in the ocean, with a little bridge to it. It was very much a real scene. Now, and when I sent the postcard, the boat is gone and it is only a fancy restaurant with a fantastical setting floating on an island of rock.
After my trip someone taped the postcard to the computer area we use when we're in charge of the automated check in machine.
The postcard was still taped up there when I left the library after 31 years working there.
I don't know how many of the traces of me have been removed from that library, or have faded away. I don't know if someone bothered to toss a four year old postcard away yet.
I looked at that postcard a lot, working on the machine late at night. Now I live here and sometimes we walk by the place from that image. I've taken quite a few photographs of it and here is one, in my current style. This was taken from a similar, hopefully almost identical vantage point that the postcard picture was taken from, with maybe a hundred years between them.

I will look next time I go to that library and let you know. So good to read your blog and enjoy the art.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I'm not sure I want to know, but... I leave it in your hands.
DeleteVisited today (2/21/2026) and the photo/postcard is still there! I took a photo and chatted with several staff members.
DeleteHow nice! Well then, did it all look familiar? Was the postcard just like my picture. DID EVERYONE MISS ME TERRIBLY???!!!! or is it all new people working there now?
DeleteYour postcard and your rendition of that location are very comparable and recognizable. The postcard may have been relocated since you left the building. I had to really search for it and I think I made some of the newer employees a little nervous as I looked for it. But I did find it and the card received new interest from those in the area. Your name brought strong reaction from staff members I spoke to. All positive reactions of course! I would try to post the photos I took but I am not that competent on sharing photos. Yes, the staff has changed a great deal with many new faces. Anyway, I was very happy to find the postcard. May it ever be a landmark of the workroom.
DeleteThe portraits you did of staff are also displayed as they have been since the remodel of the building.
ReplyDelete