Our Ruins

I came across this, reading an article about the decline of rural Indiana at the Daily Yonder:

"In Europe you often come upon castle ruins as you travel. Half of a stone archway will rise out of a hillside, hinting at long-gone glory. In Greentown, I pass a sad old Victorian home covered in fading aluminum siding. Its porch and sidewalk are gone, but the two concrete steps still rest alone and useless in the middle of the yard, leading to and from nowhere. In America’s compressed historical cycles, these are our ancient ruins."

That about sums it up.

Also:

Vevay, Indiana was voted one of the 10 coolest small towns in America. It's been awhile since I've been around those parts, but . . . well.