Ohhhhhh America: The Joy of Foam

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

It is Day Three of "Ohhhhhh America" week - where I detail items that make me say "Ohhhhhh America" and make me shake my head in disbelief, sorrow, shame or all of the above.  I usually have "New Product Wednesday" posts on Wednesdays where I review a product that is new or at least new to me.  However since I have many product reviews this week, I am going to skip it for this week.  (Gasp!)

Instead, I have a tale about psychics, foam and friends who take you to see foam.

Over the last year or even longer, I have been re-evaluating various relationships.  Unfortunately there are some people in my life who make zero effort and are quite happy for me to carry the full load.  I'm not too keen on this situation, so I have been expending energy only on relationships with people who have not adopted this Lily 100%, them 0% philosophy.  

Last I checked, cell phones work both ways ... is it so hard to press H - I and then press "send" on a cell phone to text or email?  Or better yet, how about a phone call?  I think if someone has made zero effort to contact me, they have no right to complain about me not talking with them.  It's a two way street, people!  

Sadly, I was disappointed and shocked to learn that a couple people who I considered friends disappeared from sight when I was not the one driving 100% all communication.  People I had helped when they were sick, hospitalized or in trouble.  People I had bought gifts for and went out of my way to see.  People I had hosted parties for, at my expense.  But in the end, the clear knowledge of who is willing to put in effort and who is not is a gift.  No need to look back in anger.  Life is short.  Better to spend time and energy on those who spend time and energy in return.  No need to waste energy on those who do not appreciate or reciprocate.

I have decided that in the future, I need to put people/acquaintances/friends in one of two camps ... those who would drive me out to the middle of nowhere to look at foam and those who would not.  I am pretty sure this will become the new litmus tests for all friendships.  "The Lily/Foam Friendship Corollary" is sure to be the buzz term for all future psychology conferences from now until the end of time.

I was visiting FLL (the woman affectionately referred to as "The First Lady of Lynchburg, Virginia" in past LilyOnTheLam posts.)  FLL had taken me to a cute little shopping area in Charlottesville, Virginia.  I purchased a fabulous ring from a street vendor that I just adore, even though it quickly turned my finger a gray-green.  I heard if you paint the inside of a cheap metal ring with clear nail polish, this can help stop this from happening.  (Also buying better quality jewelry helps too!)

After much shopping, FLL and I sought refuge in a quaint coffeehouse.  Our last stop had been this mystical ethereal shop that sold tarot cards, crystals, etc. and had a cute male cashier.  I told FLL about a psychic I went to while on holiday in Portland, Maine (as it has become a vacation hobby to throw away money on silly pursuits like this).  The psychic had told me that I was an alien.  (My step-father will enjoy that he's been proven correct on this one.)  

Apparently I came to Earth to help "tune up" alien souls to survive here.  The psychic plucked at the air to demonstrate how I rearranged souls' molecules.  (Souls have molecules?)  Evidently I was like the TSA agent at Stonehenge telling the alien souls to make sure their shampoo was in three ounce bottles or less.  

I was not surprised to "learn" that even a millennia ago, I was working annoying jobs.  

Evidently my soul is really, really old.  (A fact that many people will concur on ...)  I sat across from this Earth Mama psychic, taking in her weirdness.  (She told me my aura is also supposedly a blue rose slowly opening in the light.  Whatever that means!)  Then the psychic told me she watched a fascinating special on TV about Stonehenge.  

At this point I had to hold back a snort.  Um yeah what are the odds that this "psychic" watches a TV show on Stonehenge and then surprise, surprise her next client was someone who was supposedly at Stonehenge?  Use a little imagination, woman!  And don't TELL ME about your inspiration for your bogus reading!  Try a little harder, Psychic Lady!  

I do feel like I am an old soul, but I have my doubts whether I was working "the gate" at Stonehenge.  As I told this story to FLL, she metaphorically slapped her head and said "Ohhh I forgot, I want to take you to FOAMHENGE!"

I just stared at FLL.  None of those words strung together seemed to make sense to me.  Evidently my hearing was going.  "Foamhenge???"

FLL said "Yes, there's a Stonehenge in Virginia made out of foam and I want to take you to it."

FLL said this with a perfectly straight face.

I did what any old soul/possible alien gatekeeper would do in my situation when faced upon hearing that someone wanted to drive me out to rural Virginia to show me foam.

I said:  "LET'S DO IT!"

I have never been to the real Stonehenge - the prehistoric monument located in England.  No one knows exactly how these gigantic stones were raised in a semi-circle or what it was used for.  Some think druid burial ground.  Some think alien portal.  Some just revel in the mysteries of the unknown.

Apparently back on April Fool's Day 2004, Mark Cline of Enchanted Castle Studios erected a Stonehenge like replica made entirely of foam near Natural Bridge, Virginia.  I'm not really sure why and I suspect the answer might be "Sounded like a good idea at the time!"

Now Natural Bridge, Virginia is known for its "natural bridge" rock formation.  So I think it is an interesting twist that it is now known for two items - one nature made and one man-made ... rock and foam.

With me navigating by iPhone GPS, FLL and I took off to see "Foamhenge."  I'd like to say there was a kicky theme song playing in the background as we traveled ... I'm thinking like Dolly Parton or Daft Punk.  But I actually don't even recall if we had music on, as we were so determined to see FOAM.

After what seemed like forever, we pulled up into a gravelly makeshift parking lot.  I had been reading Yelp reviews that had complained about the climb from the quasi parking lot to the actual "Henge of Foam."  I looked up the hill and was like "Yelpers, are you a bunch of wussies?"  (I kid, I kid - please don't send me hate mail!)  The climb did not seem bad at all - but if it had been winter, yes it probably would have been somewhat difficult or at least slippery.  (See Foamhenge in summer, people!)

There was actually a large branch to the side of the "entrance" of Foamhenge that I think was a walking stick for those who may have issues getting up the hill.

We met a very nice man at the base of "Foamhenge" who talked to us for awhile and gave us a preview of what we would see at the top of the hill.  (Um, foam?)  Large blocks of foam seem to inspire friendliness.

There was a sign with an ominous warning against defacing "Foamhenge."  Creator Mark Cline says that he is watching and will scratch up your car if you scratch up his foam.  I looked around me to see if I could spot Mark Cline hiding in the foliage, about to pounce.  I am paranoid by nature, I don't need to be told that someone is watching me!  I did appreciate that the sign said "I'm nuts enough to do it!"  I feel like all my work e-mails should have a similar sign-off.

Foamhenge was meant to be a one time April Fool's joke, but it's now been over ten years and people are still coming to see it.  Time and the elements have not been kind to the Henge o' Foam, but I think the exposed foam looks like aged rock from a distance.

In addition to the foam structure, there are signs with theories on how Stonehenge came to be constructed.  (So yes, you're not only looking at foam but learning some nifty fun theories while you're at it!)

The theory that makes me smile is the one where they propose that Merlin of King Arthur's court levitated the large stones into place.  To demonstrate the theory, there is a replica of Merlin (in foam, I think?) looking like he's commanding something or another.  His hand is missing, but his fierceness remains.  Mark Cline modeled the face of Merlin after a friend who has since passed away.  In my book that's a pretty cool piece of immortality - to be reigning over Foamhenge after one has passed.

There is something very Americana about stopping during a road trip to see the biggest ball of twine, a giant thermometer or a two-headed snake in a jar.  I'd like to pretend that I am "above" all this - but I have to admit, I revel in it.  There was no deep thought about "Do I really want to see some foam in the middle of nowhere?"  You just do it!  

On a gorgeous day in May with a very good friend, my eyes feasted upon foam resting in the Virginia countryside.  It was just as inexplicable as the real Stonehenge ... and perhaps may be the closest I get to the real one.  I didn't have any deja vu about "working the gate" at the henge, rearranging alien souls.  But hey, you never know ...

After FLL and I got our fill of the Henge o' Foam, we headed back down the hill.  I turned for one last look and saw a plane streaking the sky like a giant arrow pointing at the Merlin statue next to the Stonehenge replica.  I take this as a sign that of all the theories about how Stonehenge was created, we should put our "faith" in magic.   

When we returned to the car, a family of four were getting out of their car with such excitement to see the Henge o' Foam.  Now I tend to be a cynic who is dead inside (LOL), but I had to smile at just how excited this family was.  It was like they were going to meet Santa Claus, Jesus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy!  I stopped to think when was the last time I was THAT excited about anything?

For me, the "beauty" of Foamhenge was that it reminded me to experience joy in the weird, wacky and wonderful.  I never knew I needed to see some big slabs of foam on a hill, but I am glad that I did!  

I hope you all are filled with as much excitement as that family of four on their way to Foamhenge.  It's important to hold such happiness close to our hearts and be grateful for the moment.  Ohhhh America!