I taught you

book pages and self-portrait

See? You do remember.
I taught you dancing, too,
and languages and all the music that I knew
and how to love what's beautiful.

The Lion in Winter, James Goldman

joining 52 photos for conversation

jumping through the layers

jump!

March 11th was a Monday and I can't remember much about what I did that day except for one exceptional moment.

That day I was at the gym on the treadmill which happens to be right at the window facing out onto the street. Most people driving by usually look our way and it's evident that we see each other. Has that ever happened to you: you are looking at someone looking at you? Most of the time it comes down to who looks away first or how do you pretend you're looking at something different and not them? Or better yet, you smile and maybe they smile back.

On that day, two young guys were walking down the street. One was carrying a skateboard and the other was carrying a milk jug with the lid off. I and two other people were on the treadmills. I was jogging and looking out when I saw the milk jug guy wave at us. A couple of seconds passed and I decided to wave back and realized I was the only one to return the wave.

We were strangers and the distance was measured by layers measured in time, feet and accessibility. I admit that I was apprehensive, but why? What did I have to lose? The layers of anonymity make it easier to be less human. They would soon be out of my view so I didn't really have to return their hello. I felt safer with those layers in place. And by returning their hello, I had cut through those layers and become more human.

As soon as I had finished my wave to them, they both celebrated by jumping up and down. Liquid was flying out of the milk jug with every jump and they both got creative with how they jumped. They continued on in this way until they were no longer in my view.

As I couldn't get a photo of them that day, I took this photo of me jumping in the woods to commemorate that happenstance. Those two guys really made my day!

joining 52 photos for Layers.

shedding some light

tree, fog and sunlight

Recently, I took a long pause from doing any art or photography. I packed away all my art materials and left my camera sitting cold on the bare art table.

I could never be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.
― Eleanor Roosevelt

looking though lace curtains

I've been trying to look at what I can do and not what I can't do. With no drawing since Feb 19th, I finally picked up a pen and drew a simple sketch on March 6th. It was a slow start but I've returned to my art and photography. They are my tools: my compass and my backstaff.

I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday.
― Eleanor Roosevelt

looking through a hole in the blinds

And each new day brings choices and opportunities. Sometimes they are smaller and harder to see, but they are there.

joining light at 52 photos.

sunrise and seagulls

sunrise

Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.
Emily Dickinson

joining horizon at 52 photos project

love

twirling

Tu Risa  

Quítame el pan, si quieres,
quítame el aire, pero
no me quites tu risa

No me quites la rosa,
la lanza que desgranas,
el agua que de pronto
estalla en tu alegría,
la repentina ola
de plata que te nace.


Mi lucha es dura y vuelvo
con los ojos cansados
a veces de haber visto
la tierra que no cambia,
pero al entrar tu risa
sube al cielo buscándome
y abre para mí todas
las puertas de la vida.


Take bread away from me, if you wish,
take air away, but do not take from me your laughter.

Do not take away the rose,
the lanceflower that you pluck,
the water that suddenly
bursts forth in your joy,
the sudden wave
of silver born in you.

My struggle is harsh and I come back
with eyes tired
at times from having seen
the unchanging earth,
but when your laughter enters
it rises to the sky seeking me
and it opens for me all
the doors of life.

― Pablo Neruda, Your Laughter translation Donald D. Walsh

joining love at 52 photos project