In 1981, not long after receiving PLS licensure, single and broke, I surveyed a land grant section originally surveyed in 1823.?ÿ I found an old buggy axle at the northeast corner. It stuck up about 2 feet above the ground, deep in the woods. I tied flagging on it and used it as the POB of a 60-acre tract that I surveyed with my 20-second Gurley.?ÿ Yesterday afternoon, about 40 years later at age 69, I went to that same point to resurvey and subdivide the 60-acre tract.?ÿ The buggy axle was still there with many layers of survey ribbon wrapped around the top.?ÿ It was a beautiful cool day with no wind.?ÿ I stood there and looked at that buggy axle for a while thinking about my mood in 1981 when I found it, my worries about being able to make a living on my own, my wonderful marriage which came about 4 years after that, the development of my career and business, my three daughters who are grown and gone, and all of the water that went under the bridge. It affected me. I always tried to smell the roses, but I am going to smell harder.
Glad you made it "full circle".?ÿ Ain't life funny sometimes?
You know, I've also come across corners that have lain undisturbed for 40 years.?ÿ They seem so frail at times, and yet there's a sense of fortitude that says they could make it another 40 easily.
Enjoy smellin'?ÿ them flowers.?ÿ?ÿ
Nice, well-written sentiments Frank!?ÿ I'm glad you could savor the moment.
Licensed Land Surveyor
Finger Lakes Region, Upstate New York
THIS...this is why I love surveying! The history, the found monuments that non-surveyors don't even know exist, the feeling it brings when you find something then find it again years later, the feeling you get when you set your first section corner in your early surveying career (@holy-cow, thank you for that).
Enjoy the little things and take time to reflect. Smell those flowers, @frank-willis.
Freedom. History. The people you meet. The information you learn. The adventures you have.
But, memories are the best.?ÿ You can replay them over and over.?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ
