Wheeling around our neighborhood these past few weeks, I am interested by all the signs that people post in their gardens. It occurred to me that signs are everywhere: stop signs, speed limit signs, street signs. The ones catching my eye recently have been signs placed to encourage others, signs with optimistic messaging, signs to uplift our community, and signs that simply make you smile and nod your head.
This month I found myself humming a tune from the early ’70s performed by Five Man Electrical Band:
Sign, sign, everywhere, a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery
Breakin’ my mind
”Do this,” “Don’t do that”
Can’t you read the sign?
If you are nodding and remember this song, it’s a sign that, yeah, we’ve been around for a while.
Here are a few I see from my bike as I navigate our streets and avenues.
The variety of signs inspires me, challenges me, and makes me realize how fortunate I am to be a part of our community.
Sign me up!
Alameda resident Michael Wright is a rewired (not a typo) sports agent who moved to PDX with his wife Sally in 2009 from New York City. Writing, cycling, and sports of all types are no longer side hustles, but full-time pursuits.
