Hobo Signs

I was watching a couple old reruns of AMC's Mad Men early this morning. I have yet to figure out whether I like the show or not, but the two reruns I watched were on the very cool side. One of the episodes I watched was called "The Hobo Code". Part of that episode was particular flashbacks to Don Draper's childhood, and to a Hobo visiting his homestead at that formulative time in his life. The Hobo teaches the young Don (aka Dick Whitman) some Hobo Signs.

 From the late 19th 1880's thru WWII, hobos left graffiti to inform fellow hobos of local conditions. Typically, these signs would be scribed in chalk or coal., or as in the above, episode, carved in wood.

In this particular episode, the flashbacks to his childhood teach the viewer something about Don's character, and something about his past.  The visiting Hobo carves a sign toward the end of the episode as a judgement made on one of Don's family members. No, I won't play spoiler here, but I will make a brief comment on this as  to how the details of the episode reflect upon my life.

I was a bit of a 'hobo', in my youth. I did some thumbing, freight car hopping etc. in my time. I did not think of myself as a hobo, and I knew nothing about these 'signs'.  Interesting though, we left our own signs in our own fashion. My travelling companion kept a coloring book and crayons in his backpack as something to keep him occupied during lulls of our trip, downtime before catching that next ride.   My companion also kept a journal, which we both logged words in from time to time.  And there were times when other thumb-travelers out there had left messages on the underpasses which we would read. I particularly remember reading some clever 'underpass poetry' from some creative fellow traveler. Somewhere, I remember I wrote the verses down, if I come across those lines again I will let you all know. It would not surprise me if we had seen 'Hobo Signs' and not recognized them for what they signified.

So, it was pretty interesting seeing these 'codes' on TV, and likening it unto my own life. The episode was clever and thought provoking. As I ponder on the episode, and how it relates to my own life, I am forced to ponder what 'Hobo' sign might be left to mark my life, my personality. If my life were judged by other fellow travels who passed through my life, what Hobo  code would they leave to define me and my mark upon their visit with me?

Cheers, nca

P.S. For an Interesting Article about Underpass Poetry, click here.