NanPerryArt confronts the Law

 I’ll just confess upfront that I have a handful of speeding tickets to my credit. I’m not necessarily proud, but other than those civic blots, my criminal record is nonexistent.  I have utmost respect for law enforcement, so imagine, if you will, my consternation while plein air painting in lovely Gauley Bridge, WV when a patrol car pulled up. My overly active imagination took flight.  Had I parked in an unauthorized spot? Was there some kind of ordinance prohibiting roadside parking? I thought I had picked an out-of-the-way spot in the public parking area of Snack Shack on Hwy 60. What had I done? Was I suspicious looking enough to cause concern among the citizens? The patrol car opened and I heard the stutter of radio communication. Oh....Lord Jesus...help me. From within the darkened interior of the car, the officer rose up and out. Slowly, he strolled toward me. Well, whatever the future held, I would deal with it as best I could. My fears were soon abated however, for  Officer Eric Oden is an art lover. He was just interested in plein air painting and wanted to see what I was painting. The list of benefits to plein air painting is long,  but at the top of the list would have to be meeting people like Eric Oden, Gauley Bridge’s long arm-of-the-law, and painting in lovely places like Gauley Bridge, WV. Eating at the Snack Shack alone is worth a return trip. It’s already on my calendar.