Surfing in shit (Hollister Avenue SW)
Writing in Augmented Space
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Script
Head out of the high school parking lot and take a right onto County Road 30. [sfx: traffic noise] Weave your way through all those gravel roads sprawled out in front of you. Do you see that dairy farm off to your left? Swing into that driveway, and park your car in front of that blue and white barn. This old farm is where my mom grew up and where I spent a lot of my time as a kid. My uncle now runs this farm, and back in the day, I would come here with my brother, and we’d explore the countryside with our cousins.
Our day would start when we ran out of that white farmhouse behind you and across the lawn until we reached the barn that’s in front of you. [sfx:sound of running] We’d step up to that red fence off to your right, placing our hands on the smooth metal bar. We’d take a step onto that lowest bar down there so we could see over the fence. Touch the bars of the fence for yourself. Feel the cool metal in your hands and watch all those cows roam around in the pasture, looking for food and something to drink. [sfx: cows mooing]
Then we’d run through that big, wooden barn door [sfx: sound of door slamming] and start a new adventure. Walk to your left and pull that big white door open, taking a step inside. The Beach Boys “Surfin’ USA” was cranked up on that radio over there on the left, and we had our old barn clothes on, bought by our parents courtesy of local garage sales. [sfx: "Surfin' USA" playing in background]
Take a step to the side, so you’re not blocking the entrance of the barn. My uncle would then walk through that doorway, just getting done milking the cows and leading them out of the barn into that pasture outside. It was time to clean up the barn a bit, and we were there to help. Well, sort of.
My uncle made his way down that long aisle in front of you and to the very back of the barn. Go ahead. [sfx: sound of footsteps] Walk down the cement aisle, avoiding all that cow crap splattered on the left there. My uncle then turned on the gutters by flipping that switch over there on the left wall. Those long gutters that you saw lining the aisle as you walked to the back of the barn revved up, and the noise echoed through the barn. We were ready to go.
Look down at those gutters as you stand in the back of the barn. On that day, they were filled with cow shit that was carried out of the barn through that exit directly behind you. To you, it may be smelly and disgusting, a dirty job to clean up. But for a group of young kids like us, it was practically the McDonald’s play place.
Those gutters in full gear, we’d jump in and go for a little “surf.” We’d put our feet on those ridges in the gutters and ride on them as they moved. While jamming out to the music, we were having the time of our lives. [sfx: "Surfin' USA" playing in background]
You may call it playing in shit, but we called it cheap entertainment. We were young, creative, and content with what we had. As you make your way back down that crap-covered aisle, think about how you make the best out of little situations and find satisfaction out of it. [sfx: sound of footsteps] Push that big white door open and step outside. [sfx: sound of door slamming] Get in your car and make your way back down that old dirt road.