My Greek Cairn…
To some, it’s just a pile of rocks, but to me it’s much more. It’s an acknowledgement, a nod of the head to those gone before. Perhaps it’s not as intricately built as walls and foundations that were laid hundreds of years ago, but it is what I can present as an offering to those ancient builders. It overlooks the Aegean Sea, on the island of Santorini, on a mountain top where those that have gone before built their roads, their homes and their temples. I feel their spirit all around me. They lived, they loved, they passed. They left their mark on this world…and on my soul…
My Mind’s Eye…
By now most people know that photography is my unofficial passion. I say “unofficial” because if I take it more seriously, it becomes more of an obsession, and then it is no longer enjoyable to me. I much prefer to carry my small pocket Canon, as opposed to having a heavier camera hanging around my neck. If I purposely set out to take pictures with my 35mm, I then tend to miss the simple joy of catching the perfect shot as it comes along. Rarely do I take a picture that shows an entire scene. Instead, my eye leans towards just part of what most people see. I appreciate forms and angles, and shadows are welcome. Occasionally, I will notice people looking at me oddly, and following my camera’s line of sight, and it is obvious they are wondering what I could possibly be seeing that is worth photographing. I am used to it, and can usually tune them out, leaving them to stare to their heart’s content. This morning, however, I was presented with a situation that I had never experienced before. 
I was walking down the street, very much in my own world as usual, snapping odd photos as I always do. I noticed a young boy, about 9 years of age, give or take, and he was hanging back about 20 feet or so. I would take a picture or two, zooming in or out on various scenes, and then move on. As I moved away, he would move in to where I had been standing, and would study intently at what I had been photographing. He would then take out his smartphone, and take the same picture or two that I had just taken. Whether or not he was taking the exact shot that I had, I do not know, but I do know that he was trying to see what I had seen. This easily went on for at least 15 minutes or so. When I finally reached my destination, I turned and gave a nod to my young companion,wishing him well and silently thanking him for his company. He went his way, and I went mine. Later, as I was downloading and reviewing my photos, I thought of the boy, and realized that perhaps he had learned to look at things in a different light, to look a little closer. Maybe I had just witnessed the birth of this generations Ansel Adams, and I had played a part in it. Of course, I will never know, but we all like to think that we’ve made a difference somehow, that we’ve left our mark on the world. Maybe…just maybe, today was the day that I did…
Life is Good…
As I sit beside him, and together we watch the setting sun light up the sky, I give thanks for another day that I was blessed to spend with him. My heart swells with love, and there is nowhere else I would rather be. He is my rock, my anchor, my husband and my best friend. What amazes me the most is knowing that he feels the same towards me…
Me and the Man... 