if it quirks..

I’ve walked a million steps on cobblestones ancient and creaking.

Apparently, these cobblestones are worshipped by the toes of today.

Passing over stones laid by pilgrims, peasants and paupers who dreamed of a better life

who dreamed of better than cobblestones

who thought the cobblestones were a modern uptick from dirt roads sloshed with mud and piss.

I explored an old home where the kitchen walls were inlaid with hand painted tiles.

“Don’t touch”, screamed the signage.

How many dirty fingers passed over this kitchen wall in its time?

How many boiling pots spewed droplets of stew on to these hand painted one-of-a-kind tiles back in its day?

How many maids didn’t care?

How many people stumped past those fancy tiles to do a number two?

It’s interesting how cobblestones and hand painted tiles have become a luxury in our new world.

When they were simply part of the boring landscape of the old world.

The old world resting on its laurels – proud of never updating its roads or preserving something that was once functional.

Now it’s all a museum. The old world museum. Look but don’t touch.

And in today’s news – The Moulin Rouge windmill collapsed April 25, 2024.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…until you can’t ignore the need for some WD40 and a good tune-up.

Old world, take care of your streets.