Tunnel exterior. Connecticut. Photo by Katelyn Avery.

It was near the end of July when my Mom and I enjoyed a mini summer journey. We drove for a little more than an hour toward the middle of Connecticut. One of the stops was a little less conventional. Mostly because we didn’t stop.

Along the highway I found two worlds colliding. Our man made world full of cement and bricks, and the beauty of a natural site. The abundance of trees could make a person think they were hiking through unclaimed territory, found deep in a secret woods. The view just beside the tunnel easily masks the fact that we were actually driving along a Connecticut highway, close to small cities and suburbs. I quickly pulled out my Mom’s iPhone, to catch the piece of art.

 Tunnel interior. Connecticut. Photo by Katelyn Avery.

As we cruised through the tunnel I took time to admire the sleek walls. A lot of time and effort had went into this project.

I had actually entered this tunnel many times as a kid, on the way to my (paternal) Grandma’s house in New Hampshire. She taught me how to get more fun out of the ride. She told me to make an “Oooooh” noise, because of the echo. My twin sister Jen and I loved it, and did so for the next 5 years every time we entered a tunnel. Now many years past early childhood fun, I still smile as I hear that sound in my memories.

– Katelyn Avery

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