Our next journey takes us beyond Marion, beyond Fort Wayne, and beyond the vast expanse of the imagination to Ashley, Indiana: Home of the Smiley Face.
Before I elaborate on the slogan, we will explore Ashley"s role in my life.
First, let it be known that I have been aware of Ashley"s existence for almost as long as I"ve been playing the Pen Name Game, a driving activity that I made up to busy myself on the 3-hour treks to and from Michigan, in which I turn the cities on exit signs into potential pen names. In my top three are Angola Lagrange, Auburn Garrett, and Marion Montpelier, but I always take Ashley Hudson into consideration because there are a number of phonetics-deficient individuals who call me Ashley anyway, and I wouldn"t have to change my initials.
If you"re wondering, I imagine that the cities that sound like men"s names are the names of politicians or lawyers, as in "Markle Decatur for Mayor!" or "Warren Berne Huntington - Attorney at Law."
My first attraction to Ashley, other than its role in the Pen Name Game, was a direct result of the attraction of the needle to the "empty" mark on my gas gauge. I decided then would be as good a time as any to stop and refuel.
But the thing that inspired me to explore this small, serene wonderland was the giant smiley face water tower.
Every time I see a smiley face I think of the time, over winter break, that I took my little sister, Alaina, and her boyfriend, Chris, to Salvation Army. While looking through the stuffed animals, he found a smiley face doll with arms and legs that vibrated and laughed hysterically when you pushed a button imbedded in its hand. He thought it was the funniest thing and bought it, largely to bother Alaina.
Poor Mr. Smiley spent the ride home from Salvation Army in the trunk of my car and, upon its arrival home, was thrown into Chris" basement by Alaina who told him if he ever touched it again she would be happy to take applications for a new boyfriend.
At any rate, since I had a deep sisterly connection involving smiley faces, I decided to explore the wonders of Ashley beginning, of course, with the BP station.
Upon closer inspection, I learned that Ashley contains roughly a smiley face water tower and a BP station. There is also a restaurant called "Smiley Caf+à-+," which I will visit at a later date out of sheer curiosity, and a Bunch"s Shop Rite, which I actually did visit to buy peanut butter M&M"s in hopes that the bag would contain all purple ones so that I would win one million yen. I have a sneaking suspicion that one million yen equals about $5.75 in American currency. Regardless, it is a $5.75 that I could use for gas money to visit another small town where I would buy more peanut butter M&M"s.
So, there you have it. I strongly encourage you to visit Ashley, particularly its bicentennial festivities in the year 2016. Bring your mom! Bring your friends! Bring your sister!
I would, but I"d be afraid that she"d throw the water tower down the stairs.
Write to Aleshia at aahaselden@bsu.edu
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
