Daily WordPress Challenge: Foreshadow

The New Oxford dictionary defines Foreshadow: be a warning or indication (of a future event). The term is the new photo challenge of Daily WordPress, here.

Where I live now used to be farms, as far as your eyes can see. At some point they used to be planted with soybeans and/or corn. Old barns in this area are the last vestiges of what this once was. But signs of progress are creeping in faster than you can close and open your eyes. At the wink of an eye.

Two weeks ago, there was this old barn I wanted to take a picture of. Everyday I passed by there to catch my bus at the Park and Ride I kept telling to myself, tomorrow. But what do you know. One day the barn was gone, the next day the silo. It happened so quickly, on the third day, the farm was gone and so were the acres of corns. In its place were big machineries and culverts, concretes and mounds of top soil so the new owners can create a new community. They were fast!

Even my brother-in-law was caught by surprise. “What happened?” I said, the sign was there. “Welcome to the new site of Ashford Subdivision”. Foreshadowing what’s to come.

So this afternoon I finally drove around to take pictures of the old barns. I know these structures won’t be saved. There is no doubt the farms will be replaced by new developments. Progress, if that is what they call this, will prevail.

The main thoroughfare near our subdivision is nothing but a row of commercial establishments. Malls from end-to-end traversing through many towns. Name any chain establishment, there is one here. My San Diego aunt’s favorite restaurant, Mimi’s, has a branch here which reminds me I should bring my sister there.

Who would have thought that this could happen here, even though our location is many miles away from Chicago, 45 minutes by car or by Metra train? There’s no stopping it.