Finding a memory...

Yesterday we were hunting for a comic book store that would satisfy the needs of my 10 year old Justice League enthusiast.  He isn't opposed to DC comics but he is partial to the JL.  Someday I will need to post my feelings on the lack of appropriate comics for 10 year olds and why there are so few that I could place in his hands without censoring pages, but that is not for today.  Today, after spending way too much on something that we knew he would have mostly read before we ever reached home, we decided to find a park.  It was a gorgeous day, too beautiful to waste, so we looked for a large green area on the GPS map and asked the nice lady to take us there.  She took us to Eagle Rock Reservation. 

It was lovely!  As we drove in on a winding, switchback road, we couldn't wait to park the car and hike the trails.  There wasn't much parking at the access points and the spots were already filled with the cars of other people who had this great idea first.  We kept driving, looking for someplace to pull over.  We found it. 

As we crested the top of the hill we could see the New York City skyline off in the distance.  It was gorgeous and we could see some sort of park ahead so we went over to investigate.  What we had found was the Eagle Rock Reservation 9/11 Memorial.  What a day to be drawn to this spot.

Tomorrow 9/11 rolls around again.  We are 11 years past the day that the world collectively gasped as they watched the towers fall.  In that moment we all felt the sorrow, shared the shock, and experienced the pain.  Living where I do, I know many families that lost loved ones that day.  We've all moved on, they've all tried to heal, but seeing that date on the calendar must be so hard.  It is just a day but it is a day that changed us all. 

So much has happened since, so many things that create so many conflicting feelings in so many people but as I stood at that overlook and ran my hands over the names of the people who lost their lives that day, I just felt sad. No philosophical, religious, or political rationale can return what was lost to these families.  Here and at memorials the world over that hope to show us how much is lost when we can't find a better way to resolve our differences, you wonder, can humankind ever realize that a peaceful resolution is the path forward? As I looked out at the Freedom Towers rising on the horizon, I offered up a prayer of hope. 

There is so much to say and yet finding the words is so difficult.  These images are a true reflection of my feelings.  I was unprepared and did the best I could to show how I felt with the camera in my cell phone.  It isn't close to all I wanted to show you but it is what I have to give.  I'll go back, I'll use better equipment, I'll try again.  Isn't that what we all have to do?  Keep trying, change our tactics, find other ways to move us towards a better understanding so we can all say, 'Never again.  Not here, not anywhere.  Never again.'



Back at it...

Hi!  I'm back. Did ya miss me?  Don’t answer that! 

It has been a while since I was able to get over here and post.  During that time I never stopped taking photos though, so I have a stock pile of things I cannot wait to show you.  I figure over the next few weeks I can get us all caught up and any leftovers I will use to fill in the blanks when inspiration eludes me. 

For my first post of the new era I shall start with, drumroll please, flowers!  It may have been a while but did you really expect that would change?  Again, don’t answer that.  I have thrown in a lake and some spider webs to spice it up for you.  The frog, well he just needed to be seen.  Enjoy.

I'm Back...

I got swamped, what can I say, but today I realized something; I stopped posting here after a freak snow storm in October.  It snowed on my Halloween decorations and I pouted... for a long time apparently.  However, a long awaited, very appropriately timed, snow storm today set everything right.  Snow on my Christmas decorations was very inspiring!

I have been taking photos for the last few months, I just haven't been posting.  In the next day or three I will catch you up with a few large posts and then we will be back in business.  Until then, here is a sneak peek at the snow that made me smile.

Talk with you soon!