Caption This 105

Please caption this image
[Click here for Caption This instructions]
Deerfield Beach, FL
January 2009

About this photo: We're exploring surprise-themed pictures all week long in support of Thematic Photographic. If you've got a photo that just kinda happened out of nowhere, I hope you'll click here and share it with us. But first, we caption...

There's something innately sad about an old television. So when we pulled into the parking spot late at night and saw this formerly miraculous piece of technology sitting unplugged and alone in front of the faded garage door, my heart gave a little pull as I made a mental note to capture it the next morning.

Tomorrow came and before I knew it, we heard the garbage truck rumble down the street. I scrambled outside, barefoot, camera in hand, and waved at the very friendly garbageperson. He smiled back and bowed graciously as he asked what I use my camera for, where I share my pictures and what I prefer to shoot. We chatted animatedly - an amazing thing, this spontaneous connection with total strangers - and he offered to position the crane just so for the perfect shot.

I got the shot. And a memory of a unique individual that won't soon fade.

Your turn: Please suggest a caption for this photo. Play as often as you like, and feel free to be as creative, funny or poignant as you wish. Anything goes! For more background on how Caption This works, please click here. Can't wait to see what y'all come up with this week!

About last week's photo of a forgotten gas pump: I wish I could have spent more time in this place. I don't know why broken down urban architecture fascinates me so. I'm not morbid or perpetually depressed. I simply find that my mind races when I'm immersed in landscapes like this. Thanks for indulging my slightly out-there passion. Oh, almost forgot this week's honorable menschens (slap!) Here we go...

• Terri: "It's been a gas."
• Awareness: "Out of gas."
• David's "Drive like its only $1.999!" and Terri's "Fill'er up like it's 1999" (both so Prince-like!)
• Christine Gram: "Busted."

Pamela takes it with "Fossil Fuel." Those two words sum up how I felt as I quietly wandered this ruined patch of the planet. I hope whoever takes over this property turns it into something a little friendlier for the rest of us.

Pamela is a grandma who lives in the U.S. northwest and never fails to provoke thought on her blog, The Dust Will Wait. I find her an absolute delight to read, and am sure you will, too.