July 27

The reason I usually keep a camera in my passenger seat when I drive is that there is occasionally something worth photographing.

I was waiting at a red light on Huntington Avenue when this car pulled up next to me. The brightly-crayoned window definitely caught my attention -- and held it. I studied the colors, the composition, the creativity expressed, and wondered whether this parent was raising an artist or a vandal.

This strikes me as a bad idea for a couple of reasons. I can't imagine a child in a car seat or booster seat, or even one properly belted in, could color a window so completely. That would imply the child was bouncing around the back seat unsecured. Then you have to wonder what this does for the driver. When changing lanes, I always briefly look back to see if there's a car in my blind spot. Could this driver even see I was back there?

Still, despite being of questionable utility or safety, it was still cheerful to behold that bright swath of pink and the blue "sky" on the inside of the window. Maybe it's not so bad after all.

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