Usually I zero in on the good stuff but it’s time. I’ve been saving these for the day just like today.
First, it was exactly one year ago today that I joined Patrick’s Pic and a Word challenge for the first time with this eucalyptus post. I have missed only a few weeks. Thank you, Patrick, for your words and images.
Next, a poem that burst forth today. And I haven’t even started on the male gaze and the female venom.

I want to tell you Before deluge before disrepair before self-destruction I want to tell you Before I start saying what I won’t regret tipping my dog for a smile charging for mom’s pictures I want to tell you Before the bad overpowers the good all grapes turn sour first world problems disappear I want to tell you we done did it ourselves.
What you are about to see are scenes of discomfort around where I live. You know and I know that this is nothing. People are dying, animals are tortured, crime is the norm, it’s hard to live. And yet, this is Tuscany. It’s scary to feel it creep in.
Let’s start with something that bugs me the most. This is on the local primary school property. I first saw it in 2016 but it didn’t seem new. Near the station is this building, a tourist office. February 2016. And again in January 2018. Notice the new dog shapes on the see-saw. By March 2018 it was pristine. And by September 2018 this happened. “Yellow” was not happy with the painters and gave them more work. They didn’t pounce. Still there. Checking on the school sore: still there. January 2018. A view from afar. Would be such a pretty school. Just as I thought nobody shot at signs around here, I found this by the eco farm. Somebody was practising. October 2018. January 2019: My joy was premature. Somebody was shooting at the panda, the symbol of the World Wildlife Fund. And this I can only hope is merely a sports fan group. Suddenly Arezzo doesn’t seem so appealing. Probably the worst of them all: “Thank you for the cigarettes.” This bar has been broken into at least five times in six years since I’m here. Only cigarettes were taken. Checking on the school sore. Yep, still there. Cat doesn’t help. November 2018. A hop to Rome. Ethnic resistance? Finally! Oh. Not the one I was hoping for. “Houses to Romans, immigrants out.” “Death to the Chinese who eat dogs.” Chesi also means Czechs. I was worried for a moment for Slavic brothers. (Not that it doesn’t worry me anyhow.) Back to Tuscany. This can be found everywhere after New Year’s Eve, I’m sure. But here it looks especially ugly. One year before there was such a peaceful Eve. Final check in February 2019: not only it’s still there, it’s getting vocal. Fuck you just as much. If not more.
In response to Patrick Jennings’ Pic and a Word Challenge #190: Before
Terrible. At least they could do something a bit more constructive with their paint and time.
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Quite, Amanda. Thank you!
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Ghastly
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Indeed. Thanks, Sue.
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So sad – it doesn’t matter where it is, some people have no respect for themselves or others.
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So it is, Dan. Hard to observe it.
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I’ve always lived with the premise (or hope) that mankind is generally good …but lately, I am questioning my belief
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Oh, Lisa, mankind is made up of all kinds of man and womanfolk. It seems that even generally great people can be swung to the dark side. It’s on us to tend our garden, or boat. 🙂
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Horrible 😡
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True, Paula. Thank you.
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Sad and awful, Manja.
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True, Lois. Thank you.
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Tragic. Thank you for sharing these too. The world is not always pretty.
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Indeed it’s not, Bojana. Thank you!
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This is so sad and shocking! And I thought it’s just us third world countries battling our ways up through this shit!
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Thank you, Madhura. “Wealth” is a great camouflage.
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Great 😬😳😰 I’m suddenly very very glad to be raising my boys over here where the playgrounds are pretty and well kept and primary school don’t have prison fences or graffiti.
This reminds me of the last time I took a photo of some pretty flowers and aimed intentionally so that an ugle pile of trash right next to them was out of the frame. Sometimes I think I should do a photo session of ugliness where I don’t crop out the bad parts.
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Everything to make you love your country more, SMSW. 😉 But seriously, a photo session of ugliness is also necessary sometimes. Here there is so much trash that I’m taking photos of it as art shoots. That prison fence is not around the school, mind you. That photo just makes it look that way. Not that it changes much.
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We live in a beautiful world but some do not see it. They reflect the ugliness of their hearts onto their surroundings. The malaise is there everywhere. It would be so good if they put their artistic tendencies to some positive use instead of dirtying the world like this.
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I like your photo series, Manja. This is required to remind us of the realities.
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Thank you. I thought so too. What there is, there is.
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Indeed, Vineetha. It is always a choice. Thank you.
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We live in depressing times. Lack of money for local communities means a lack of money and police to deal with “petty” crime thus allowing it to fester and grow. It is very worrying.
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True, Emma. Thank you.
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Disrespect for property spills over into disrespect of the planet and everything on it. Very sad.
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Very true, Sherry. We live in a disrespectful society. Thanks.
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I’ve been looking for ugly signs like these when we travel. I’m finding them everywhere. So sad. Once people start dividing the world into “us” and “them,” hatred creeps in. It is ugly and evil, pure and simple. I’m so glad you posted about this, MMM. Wonderful!
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Thank you, Patti. I’m not actively looking for them, but when I spot them I take notice and note. Ugly and evil is right.
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It’s important to take notice and bear witness. I’m glad you do that!
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Interesting exploration of the ugliness around us. Always enlightening to show reality. I remember a few occasions going for a walk in the forest and seeing garbage of all kinds left behind. Seeing and photographing a car tire blemishing a pristine scene was eye-opening. More care for our Mother Earth is needed to fill everyone’s heart. Sadly it is not so. 😦
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Thank you, Olga. I think it’s important too. But as you can see, I didn’t even include trash. It is so common and normal around here in Italy to see pieces of furniture, TVs, computers just lying around. I take photos of those too and will make a compilation one day.
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Congratulations on the anniversary. Though, it feels like your presence has always been here. Yours is such a strong and insightful voice — on emphatic display here — and that presence is always welcome. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thank you so much, Patrick! Yes, I’d been following your challenge and blog for quite a while before starting to take part. You are good for the peace of mind. 🙂
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❤ ❤ ❤ 🙂
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No respect is just the right conclusion. Why pollute your own landscape? The world is full of beauty…magnify it instead of degrading it. It is the same here. (K)
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Quite right, K. People like to project their own inner ugliness. Thank you.
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This is the sad reality one can see anywhere in the world! I really like this post in all its ugliness. It’s so easy to look away from the unpleasant sights of the world and ignore them. But that doesn’t make it go away, or solve the problems. Thanks for the reality check, Manja!
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You’re welcome, Sabine. Oh yes, it’s important to make this kind of checks.
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I am sad that this is on your mind so much, as it clearly is from your regular photos. I hope you can put the anger/sadness/fear/empathy away now and then, when it’s time to do that. I think you must, since you always exude so much joy. I am glad to know that you are not in denial about the ugliness in the world; that instead you see it, and think about it, and also continue to live your life with some joy in it.
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Thank you so much, Crystal, for your concern and understanding. Oh yes, joy wins with me, big time, but all those other things are here too, and it may be more and more noticeable that optimism should truly be a new revolution.
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Oh Manja! Yes, there is so much ugliness in the world – in thoughts and behavior. And it does need to be noticed – ignoring it would make us complicit. I’m glad you you notice and give voice to these symptoms while also highlighting the love and loveliness of the world around you! ❤️
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Thank you so much, Irma, for seeing that. Indeed, ignoring it would make us complicit. But there is still so much more beauty and joy.
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Yes, to ignore that beauty and joy would lead to despair. Your posts are always hopeful!
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I’m really glad you get this from my posts. ❤
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Oh and also congratulations on one year with Patrick! Two inspirational people! 🎉🎉
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Thank you, glad you say so! 🙂
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❤️
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I refuse to Like it. 😦
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That’s right, Joey. We must rebel. I’m so glad that you’ve been hopping around my blog and catching up. ❤
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