I Is For Ilium

Pelvis Isn’t Dead, He’s Just Stuck In Traffic

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I must have been paying close attention during Year Nine biology classes when I was at St Joseph’s College, North Point, in the Himalayan town of Darjeeling - because I remember that the "ilium" is the large broad bone forming the upper part of each half of the pelvis.

Just before I flew out of Whitehorse, on my return to Melbourne, Margaret Goodwin of Yukon Tourism told me she knew of an unusual sight that I would definitely like to photograph. But, no, she wouldn’t reveal what it was.

She just said I would know what it was as soon as we saw it. And she was absolutely right. As soon as I saw this skeleton, artfully arranged in the driver’s seat of a rusty old car, I had to jump out with both my cameras.

It was the little details that really made me smile - the artificial flower, and the carefully arranged necklace. It seems the property (and the car) belong to a local stonemason, and I couldn’t help but make a suggestion for him.

If he ever put a tombstone beside the car, he could engrave the words "Rust in peace". I’m not sure if the owner has ever needed security to patrol his premises - but if the need should ever arise, he can rely on his skeleton staff instead.

And if you want to drive a vintage car across the Yukon, here’s a valuable lesson. Use a map or GPS, because as you can see by this photograph, it’s a lot better than, er, dead reckoning.

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