Welcome to the World: June 30, 2013

Few things are as exciting as welcoming a new baby into the family.  As I watched my precious little cousin sleep yesterday, I couldn't help but wonder what the future will be like for someone born in 2013.  When he is my age, what gadgets will he take for granted that don't even exist today?  What diseases will be cured? What will be the impact of climate change?  What will race relations be like?  After so many thoughts of the future raced through my head, I shifted gears and began to think back to my childhood, fondly recalling the days of playing outside all day with my friends and cousins.  I'd get on my bike in the morning and ride from house to house to house, often not returning until it was time for dinner.  We didn't have a lot of money or the newest toys, but we had a close family and a strong sense of community.  I hope I can have a positive impact on my cousin's life like so many people impacted mine. 

It's Summer, Now Get Out of the House!: June 23, 2013

It was August 2011.  I had a ton of things to do but my desire to get out of the house and take a drive was much stronger than my desire to stay home and check things off my to-do list.  I needed to hit the road.  After convincing a friend to come along for the ride, we headed north on Georgia 400 without a particular destination in mind.  We ended up in a small town called Dahlonega, which happens to be the site of the first major gold rush in the United States.  After a nice lunch in the quaint town square we stopped by the Chamber of Commerce for some guidance on the next stop on this spontaneous Saturday outing.  We started leafing through the maze of travel pamphlets when one of them caught my eye.  Amicalola Falls.  I'd never heard of it, but it was close and offered a nice hike, beautiful scenery, and the tallest cascading waterfall in the southeast.  

Amicalola Falls State Park was a short drive from Dahlonega.  Visitors can choose different paths to reach the falls, each with its own degree of difficulty.  Of course we chose the more challenging trail with staircases that scale the Georgia mountainside and end at the fall.  Tackling the trail and those stairs on an August afternoon was not for the meek; so much for it being cooler in the mountains.  We passed several people along the way who either decided to turn around, or just needed a short breather.  Although my legs were on fire and my shirt was drenched, there was no way we were stopping.  After tackling what seemed like nature's version of the StairMaster, there it was - 729 feet of mesmerizing cascading water known as Amicalola Falls.  Sure, there are more majestic waterfalls and more scenic trails in the world, but on this Saturday afternoon Amicalola Falls provided me with everything I needed.  As I watched and listened to the sounds of this natural wonder, I couldn't help but think that sometimes you've just got to get out of the house and do something!  As summer begins, I challenge you to create your own adventure.  Oh, and please be sure tell me all about it!          

The Imaginary Hurdle: June 9, 2013

Have you ever had a vision for something but just couldn't get it to come together despite your best efforts?  That's how I felt about this photo.  I knew that I wanted to capture the runner in mid-air but the "pose" had to be perfect; the arms, the legs, the hair and the face all had to be just right .  Even if the runner did her part, there was the small matter of  my timing with the camera, which also had to be perfect.  Well, it turned out that it was very difficult to get all of these elements to come together to create the perfect image.  So I shot and shot and shot, at least 15 or 20 times.  And then finally, I got it! When I looked at the photo, I couldn't help but feel the sense of triumph represented by the hurdling runner.  I started to  imagine  her in a different setting, perhaps as a hurdler in the Olympics.  Then I thought, yes, she appears to be hurdling but there is no actual hurdle behind her, under her, or in front of her.  I got a little irritated with myself for creating a hurdle, albeit imaginary, when there was nothing facing her but green grass and blue skies.  That thought led to a question: how often in life do we fail to take action because of imaginary hurdles that we put between ourselves and our goals? 

Stars and Stripes: May 26, 2013

With Memorial Day upon us, I thought I would find my best photo of a flag to commemorate the holiday.  I found one close-up photo of a large flag blowing in the wind just outside the Washington Monument.  It could have been a post card.  But tomorrow is Memorial Day, NOT the 4th of July.  On this occasion, no shiny and bright wind-blown flag from grounds of the Washington Monument could compare to this faded and tattered flag that unpretentiously  honors the grave of one of our brave veterans who gave his life for our country.          

The Legacy of a Best Friend: May 19, 2013

Most weeks when I choose my photo of the week, I have a pretty good idea what I'm looking for before I even start scanning the external hard drive.   This week I was looking for something bold and dramatic.   Somehow I ended up on this photo.  I couldn't move past it.  It's so simple and so powerful.  Two young girls walking along a path holding hands.  No games, no toys, no cell phones; just two best friends.  It made me think of my best friends from childhood.  Some I still talk to, while others have faded into the mystery of time.  In retrospect, a funny thing happens when we go through different stages of life.  We gain new friends and, sometimes, new "best friends."   We might have a best friend from high school, another from college, one from our first job, and another from our first neighborhood, etc.  Sometimes that means that the pool of "best friends" grows, but more often we end up losing some along the way through disagreement, relocation, life changes, or, sadly, even death.

When I think about my best friends, I realize that many of them have left a "best friend legacy," i.e., some lasting impact on my everyday day life, whether they introduced me to a favorite restaurant, encouraged me to try a different food, or taught me a new sport, skill or favorite expression.  One of my best friends from college and I used to complain about the long wait and high prices at the barbershop.  We thought our problem was solved when we learned that a classmate was a barber who would come to your room to cut your hair!  Perfect, except our classmate proved to be a little too busy and unreliable, so we decided to buy our own clippers and cut our own hair.  The only problem was that he didn't trust me to cut his hair and I didn't trust him to cut mine, so we each cut our own.  Initially, it was a little scary learning how to hold the mirror, adjust the guards, and get a straight edge, but eventually I got the hang of it, and I never went to a barber again.  Not only that, but every time I cut my hair (or, now, shave my head), I always think of him and how much money and time he has saved me over the years.

So I will leave you with a question: what are some of your best friend legacies?

Opposite Directions: May 5, 2013

Last week a close friend moved to the west coast.  She had been living there for a few months, but now the move was official.  As I reflected on our friendship, my eyes became fixed on a photo hanging in my office.  In the photo, which I took in Santa Monica, a man and woman are riding bicycles on the same path, but going in opposite directions.  I looked at the photo again and wondered if the path is a circle that would allow the riders to meet again, or if the path is a straight line that will have them riding in opposite directions for the rest of time.      

Jefferson: April 28, 2013

Washington, DC has so many great memorials, museums and other places of interest.  My favorite DC landmark is the Jefferson Memorial.  I love sitting on the steps facing the Tidal Basin and watching the excitement on the faces of the tourists.  You never know what language or culture you will experience on any given day.  I could sit all day and soak it all in.