The Orbit Report: Haunted Statues, Flea Market Vibes & Cosmic Walks
- Sara Jane Shelvock
- Oct 5
- 2 min read
This week felt like we were orbiting between markets, graveyards, and ghost stories. Let me tell you, Iowa does not disappoint.
We landed at the What Cheer Flea Market and it went… stellar. It’s always good to meet new people, hear old stories, and see what treasures the cosmos throws your way. The crunchy snacks were flowing, the conversations were cosmic, and for a moment, Torus Coffee Company felt like the heart of that 20-acre galaxy.
Then came the real adventure. We decided to visit the Black Angel Statue in Iowa City’s Oakland Cemetery because nothing says “family field trip” like wandering among headstones at twilight. The legend says the Black Angel was commissioned by Teresa Dolezal Feldevert in memory of her son Eddie and husband Nicholas. She brought in Bohemian sculptor Mario Korbel around 1912. The statue was meant to watch over her family’s graves and over time, that bronze turned dark via oxidation, giving the Angel her iconic black patina. https://www.icgov.org/government/departments-and-divisions/parks-and-recreation/oakland-cemetery?utm_source=chatgpt.com
But legends have a life of their own. Some claim if you touch or kiss the Black Angel, you risk death or misfortune. Others say it darkens a little more each Halloween, or that pregnant women shouldn’t walk beneath her wings.
We photographers, of course, are drawn to such stories and so we snapped picture after picture. But back home, we saw why the legend persists: many of our photos got corrupted. The ones that remained were distorted, glitchy, and haunted. Even our flea market snaps most disappeared or warped. It’s not proof of a curse, but man, it sure feels like one.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to stay grounded (literally). September’s over, and I walked 90 miles. Now I’m calling October: can we push for 100 miles? Let’s make the sidewalks of Iowa into cosmic trails.
Also, Sober October has kicked off. No drinks, no regrets, just clean vibes, strong steps, and crunchy snacks in hand. #SoberOctober
Football fans, this one’s quiet no Iowa Hawkeyes game this weekend. Weird silence for what’s usually game night chaos. But in this quiet, I feel the Black Angel watching too.
So that’s this week’s orbit: flea market energy, haunted statues, corrupted photos, long walks, and quiet Saturdays. Through it all, Torus Coffee Company is right there, handing out cosmic snacks to steady your nerves (especially if your camera starts freaking out).
Until the next Orbit Report,
🌀 Stay curious. Stay crunchy. Stay cosmic.
Sara Jane Shelvock CEO, Torus Coffee Company LLC
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