Power

Power, although not exerted regularly, is always present at the pits. Much similar to my last entry, those that attend the games on Friday’s know where they are and know how to respect their environment. As I wrote previously, we have no real rules, just unspoken house rules. If the pits were located at a public facility, similar to that of the YMCA or even a national park there would be more rules that were dictated by the ‘authority figures.’ However, we don’t have that. It’s simple back yard shoes where everyone whether it be conscious or not, knows they need to respect their peers. We play fair, keep the noise at a reasonable level for the rest of the neighbors, and know better than to leave empty ‘soda’ cans laying around for someone else to clean up. If you litter, we tell you, and you pick it up. I remember one time, probably back about three months now; there was a slight argument at one of the gatherings. A BU student and a Wentworth student started arguing about an interference in the game. We let the argument progress for a few moments until one of their mutual friends stepped in. It was just a bad call made by one of the players and the third person was able to settle the argument. This was the closest we’ve ever come to having a problem here and hopefully was the last. We’re planning on having a Halloween get together at the pits this Friday of 80-100 people. Hopefully we can keep this track record and everyone will have a good time.

 

When it comes to discussing cultural aspects of the pits, I think it can create an interesting booklet of information. Because there is no distinct culture in the woods, everyone brings their own ideas of what it should be. This is even more elevated when you put this into context of who uses the pits; all college and post college students. This means simply, that most everyone has come from a different upbringing, and a different location and we are all merged into one area. Although these students meet almost daily in the same classrooms, or nightly at the same local pubs, their individual cultural differences aren’t as apparent as they are in the pits. Society has taught us to act a certain way in these locations not only to fit in, but also to be respectful of the others around us. As soon as the variable of a monitored space is expelled, each individual has the opportunity to show his or her true side.

 

Nature also has the ability to do this to us. Many of the kids that come over grew up in small towns spread out along the east coast. Although different, they all have similar roots in the country and hanging around outside. However, as soon as it became time to go to college, they decided they wanted to try something new and moved into the big city of Boston. This was great for a while, but then everyone started to realize that they really did miss where they came from. It’s funny because just this Friday, I overheard a conversation between two BU students that said that playing shoes here is like being back home on summer break playing beach volleyball at the local pond. It’s not quite the same sport by any means, but I guess it’s the atmosphere and culture that takes people back. There are a few exceptions to this as a few of our friends grew up in or around Boston. It is extremely fascinating watching them interact with others in this environment.

 

Those that were born and raised in a city have a much different idea of freedom and safety than those of us that grew up in the country. The city dwellers are more into the fast pace life of the city streets. When taking out of this context it seems they get uncomfortable and antsy to get out. These are the people that tend to leave early and stay a far distance away from everyone else. Everyone has a different range in which they don’t mind someone in their personal space. I find that these city dwellers have a much closer range when taking out of their natural culture and put into a more suburban situation. On a good night the pits will have members of many different cultures and it becomes a fascinating location to study and understand the way we interact in a non-controlled environment.

 

The landscape in the pits, although may appear to be natural, is anything but that when it comes down to it. It was pre-meditated and sculpted to fit into the exact location it is in. It feels natural, and it looks natural, however it is no doubtable part of the beta landscape. The grass is trimmed and the pits are kept clean. It is part of our neighbor’s house and it is their self-image when people come over. If the pits were neglected and overgrown they would never get used. The up-keep and the conscious layout of the area are well done and makes for an attractive environment every week…

Membership

It’s Sunday again, but today I couldn’t play shoes. I stayed up late watching the Red Sox win last night and did homework until about 1:00 AM. I got back up at 7:30 to keep doing homework, but I had to leave at noon to go to a wake. I observed the pits from my window when I got home this evening, the sun was going down and they were covered in orange and red leaves. It was like a ghost town outside though. No one was around. Not even on the streets, just some Halloween decorations and a lot of closed up houses trying to keep some heat in. It’s getting pretty cold outside so people are starting to close up their houses for the winter. Although this is one of my favorite times of the year, it is really depressing when you have to close down the windows at night because its too cold to keep them open. I love the foliage though; being from New Hampshire, I am used to the amazing colors every fall.

 

Because of the size of the horseshoe pits as well as the picnic table, the area can become very crowded. Today of course it wasn’t, but I was able to visualize some of those busy days. You know in movies when they have flashbacks and you can see yourself doing something? Well that’s kind of how today was for me. I just over looked the pits and thought about some of the good times that have happened there. The best times are when you can’t even move around the picnic table and there’s not a seat to be found. There is almost never anyone over the age of 26 or 27 at the pits, so we’re all kind of used to being crowded. Besides, we spent most of our college days in bars jammed in as tight as they can get us. While over looking the pits I visualized last Thursday. For some reason, I came home and there were about 25 people hanging out in the pits. I came inside, changed and went out to hop right in with my shoe partner. We both threw an amazing game with 3 ringers and a couple leaners. This was a really good day for us and it was nice to reminisce about it.

 

But today is something different, just sitting inside, looking across the driveway into the neighbor’s back yard. There were no groups of people, no conversations, no laughter… just a cool fall breeze whistling through the trees above. When the pits become active, its amazing how different groups of people both separate and converge together. Normally at the start of the evening, groups of friends separate. It’s an unspoken separation but from a bystander’s point of view, it’s quite amazing. The players normally gather on the grass next to the pits while the ones that come for the social experience sit on the table. It’s not broken up like a traditional crowd of young people, however, broken up more by colleges. It seems each college has its click that comes to hang out, the BC kids, BU, Wentworth, BAC… They all choose their location and claim their ground. It’s an unspoken agreement that you don’t take over another schools location. Whether it is at the table, or beside it, claimed territory is unspoken. Later on into the night this always seems to change. As the games go on, the groups mingle together and form one big society.

 

Anyone is free to bring friends to the pits, but becoming a member of our group takes more than just knowing someone else. We don’t have many rules here but we have no place for cheaters or showoffs. At the pits, it’s all business all the time. We have fun, don’t get me wrong, but we like to have a good honest time. As long as you’re fair and fun, we have no issues with you. Just don’t do anything stupid or you wont be invited back. Although this sounds harsh, it hasn’t had to happen yet. The unspoken rules of the pit are respected by all, which makes for a pleasant gathering every time. Hopefully we have a good group this Friday, I fear that there aren’t many days left this year to play shoes and pretty soon we’ll be doing more indoor activities as the weather gets too cold to spend an evening outdoors. 

I thought I should add an image of this stair case I've been discussing the past few weeks. It's evident that you need to be careful on it and its not a place you want to be lackadaisical. 

Sunday Morning Shoes

The horseshoes are kept in a shed directly next to the picnic table across from the pits. Compared to the rest of the area, this shed is relatively new and doesn’t seem to fit in. It looks nice… but doesn’t fit the natural setting of the pits. Deciding to play shoes isn’t a thought that needs to be pre-meditated. Because the pit is in my neighbor’s back yard, it’s a quick easy walk to enter into the space. Within 45 seconds of deciding I want to play I can be at the shed opening up the door to get the shoes out. I try to get into the pits at least twice a week. I play on Friday afternoon after work and Sunday morning before starting my day. Of course this is weather dependant but I’ve been lucky recently with this beautiful New England weather. I’ve played shoes in the rain before. It’s not as bad as one would think, I mean, a little water never killed anyone did it? The only problem is the pits get muddy, so unless you get a ringer or a direct shot, you have no bounce in the sand at all. This is surprisingly good practice because your shot must be dead on.

 

On sunny days, the pits seem to relax me. Being from the country I enjoy relaxing in the woods and not thinking about the hustle and bustle of the city. The birds singing and the leaves blowing are very peaceful. Especially now, in the autumn. I love this time of year when the leaves are turning colors and the cooler fall breezes are blowing around. Friday afternoons, the sun has been shining all day warming up the air. I drive home with the windows down in my new car and the stereo up. Its such a feeling of freedom knowing that you have two days off from being in the office. Homework is another story but I’m not thinking about that after a full workweek. I find that because of this, I shoot a much better game. My friends are normally around the pits on Fridays so when I get home, I just hop right into the mix.

 

Today is a Sunday though, and the feeling is much different. I worked on homework all day Saturday so I’m pretty tired today. I tried to get up early, but it just didn’t happen for me. I got outside at about 10:15 and stayed out for an hour and a half. My roommates were still sleeping and my neighbors were gone for the weekend, so today I was by myself. On Friday, I was frustrated with my shot so I spent the whole time today working on my shot from the far pit to the near pit. Remember, the near pit is the hardest pit, which causes a wilder bounce. I started to feel more comfortable with this side when my phone rang and I knew I should probably stop anyways. I put the shoes away in the shed and shut the door. I figured I would relax for 10 minutes before I went inside to finish my homework.

 

I sat down on the green plastic picnic table and just relaxed. I ended up day dreaming and thinking about this past summer. The pits do that to me sometimes. I vacationed on the Cape this summer and spent a lot of time at Hampton Beach in my Camaro. I spent two years building my car and finally ‘finished’ it this summer. I spent just about the whole summer in it at the beach (that is as long as there wasn’t a cloud in the sky as my car doesn’t see water). Although there was no ocean today, it reminded me of this time because I was so relaxed and free to the grind. This summer was great. I was on vacation the entire three months. I mean, I worked… 40-45 hours a week, but it’s the first summer I didn’t have homework to do in the past three years. This felt good. Every weekend was dedicated to the things that I wanted to do, not the things I had to do. For some reason, I went back there today and for a mere 10 minutes I felt the same way. The emotional feeling of the pits is always pleasant to me.

 

I realized I should spend a few more minutes in the pits and think about place-identity this week. Similar to my last post, I feel that the pits are a very basic layout and simple to remember. I think the discrepancy in the way that people see the place is strictly due to their background and how they grew up. Some like to be in the woods and some don’t. I see the pits as a relaxing place to hang out alone or with friends. Others see it as a scary place that they wouldn’t go to unless there is a large gathering. This seems strange to me, but I know its true because I’ve asked. Even my neighbors, who the pits belong to, don’t use them unless someone else is out there already playing. They come out once they see us, but we never come out to find them there. I asked them about this on Friday of this week and they told me simply, they come out for the social aspect, not the game itself. I thought it was because they were scared of the stone staircase or maybe the woods. I guess I was wrong…

Cognition

Due to its lack of complexity, the horseshoe pit becomes an easily memorable location. Its small size as well as it basic layout allow most all inhabitants to remember exactly what it looks like. Once you enter into the pit, you are faced with two main choices. You can either move to the left and relax on the picnic table, or turn right and enter into the pits. Although there are an infinite amount of possible locations to inhabit in the space, these are your main points of interest. Everyone that enters the space may see these two areas differently, however, they are very distinct. The pits to me feel extremely antique, with the old wooden fence and stone staircase. In my mind, this begins to stick out and forms an immediate image that translates into a memory. On the flip side, to someone else, the space may feel completely different. The old fence and the stone stairway may translate into nothing and they focus their attention on the picnic table and horseshoe pits. If cognitive mapping was to be done in this location by a friend, and myself I would be willing to bet that the maps would be completely different. This theory can be related back to the book “Invisible Cities,” by Italo Calvino. In this book, the main character, Marco Polo describes to a friend his adventures through different cities in the world. However, as the book comes to a conclusion, Polo reveals that all the cities were really the same place. He was just interpreting them differently due to his immediate perception. This is extremely fascinating because he essentially proved the point that cognitive mapping is never the same. Even the same person will most likely never see the same place twice. Every little variable has the ability to completely change your perception of a place and in turn, alter the attitude, experience and memory.

 

When I enter into the pits, I ascend the staircase and proceed directly to the pits. I like to stand on the side closest to the staircase, as overgrown woods obstruct the other side. However, if someone else is already at the pits, I will ‘walk’ to the other side. When one team has to go to the furthest side it is said they must walk. It’s a general term used in all sporting activities, often meaning the losing team. Warm-ups normally last a few tosses and then it’s into the game. Both sides of the pits have a very different feel to them. When throwing to one pit, it is evident that it has much more sand than the other. The shoes seem to hit this pit and dig in very well, causing them to not bounce out. However, throwing to the other pit is much more challenging. This pit has much harder sand and often causes the shoes to bounce around more than you would like. This is another reason as to why I like to stand at the closest pit; this is the hard pit, the soft one is located on the far side. The imagery is also extremely different depending on the side you are throwing from. When at the far end, you have the distractions of people at the picnic table in front of you at all times. Although you are closer to the noise and distractions of the picnic table at the close pit, your back is turned to them allowing you to block them out better. Out of sight, out of mind, right? This experience and these variables allow the pits to give off a different attitude caused by many factors.

 

The attitude in the pits is very much dictated by the weather and the inhabitants. The area can be a bright enlightening location, or a dark gloomy stressful destination. The attitude felt in the space can make the users have an enjoyable time, or not. Attitude can, and probably will be, described differently by all inhabitants. The grounds keeper of the pits might not enjoy them as much as they are constantly mowing the lawn, and keeping weeds out of the sandboxes. I assume there are grounds keepers here. I’m always at work during the day, but when I get home at night and I look over to the pits and the grass is never long, and the sand is often groomed. I would like to ask whomever it is that takes care of the pits to add more sand to the closer pit, but, that’s almost an impossible task with work and school. Being that the pits are used mainly at night and on the weekends, the players don’t need to deal with this hassle and only enjoy them when they want. As with many spaces, the horseshoe pits have the ability to change attitude and change your attitude on a constant basis. Because they are natural, in a natural setting, they can change on a minutely basis. A bad day with the shoes can immediately ruin your mood and mess up the rest of your day or night. Practice helps to minimize these types of days, but nothing can eliminate them. The ringer is worth three points, but if you undershoot by a quarter of an inch... you’re out of luck and only get one. This makes the games drag and the tempers flair.

 

Although the horseshoe pit is clearly meant for one purpose and one purpose only, I can understand how to many, it could be perceived as something different. When you look at studies done by researchers in relating to cognitive mapping, you are able to understand that both age and gender play a large roll in the way someone sees a space. For example, a young child in the pits may see them as a sand box and a place to play with their toys. On the same token, an old lady may see them as a place to garden and to plant flowers. While these are a couple obvious uses for the space, it can clearly be used for many other activities. The choice to play catch with a baseball or football is a valid option in this area. Because it is open and long, playing catch would be possible in the area. I have never seen this happen here, however it is easy to imagine it. I also like to think up scenarios in my mind of if this were to happen. A horseshoe pit is used for horseshoes, not catch. So, if I were to enter into the pits and someone was playing catch would they leave? Would I ask them to leave? I don’t know, I’ve never had to deal with this; however, I contemplate it almost every time I approach that old stone staircase.

 

Once play has ceased, I pick up the shoes and head down the staircase. If you thought going up this pathway was tough, you should try going down it. I’m glad I wasn’t doing a leg exercise up there, as I don’t think I would make it down the stairs…

 

-The Ringer