The mart of darkness

It's eerie, driving around with so many other cars on busy streets with so few lights on.

It's too dark in this city. It's not dark like a country road. It's dark like an abandoned shopping center.

Slowly, as I've been here, a new traffic light will be installed, or another business will get its outdoor lights working again.

But it's mostly like a journey to a turn-of-the-century city: The 19th century. Were gas lights this kind of dim? Were cities before the time of the ubiquitous electric light always gloomy?

P.S. The photo is a shot of my favorite burger place, Back Yard Burgers. The Hawaiian Chicken -- with teriyaki sauce and a slice of pineapple -- was very good, but my oh my that Bacon Cheddar Burger was tops.

P.P.S. The Back Yard Burger place on Lima Road in Fort Wayne closed. (Sniff.)