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November 04, 2004
Grab a Camera
It's been busy. All the various school stuff, football and a fall concert. Getting ready for our Halloween Party last Saturday night, I came as a teenager all in Goth. Nice thing was I didn't have to buy anything...just borrowed my kids stuff. The election. I spent much of the day and night glued to the TV, flipping channels in search of any crumb of new information.
In the midst of all this was our anniversary, Monday. The weather was beautiful and the leaves, while a little past peak were still colorful...so...we did what we love to do....went for a Sunday Drive in the country on a weekday. Since we already live in the country, we tend to see how much more in the country we can get and then proceed to see how lost we can get on backroads.
On these rides I always take my camera. That's 'the reason' we go. My husband drives and I look for pictures. He's much more accomodating on this type of trip. When we are actually traveling, I'm liable to say "OH, there's a picture!" He pretends not to hear me until after we've past that picture moment. He will then say that we will stop and get it on the way back....therein lies the joke. We have never taken the same route twice and we both know it.
Anyway, back to Monday. Since I live out here, I'm used to seeing the scenery everyday. But when I'm in a mood to look for pictures I see so much more. I see contrasts and colors. I see light and shadows playing on the mountains. Old buildings with a melancholy spirit.
It's always been there. The difference is my perception. I wanted to see these things...and I did. I thought back to when I first got my camera. I had good commutes when I took my camera with me. I'd leave a little early and take a picture if the mood struck me. I started seeing beauty and art where I hadn't before. Suddenly I paid attention to the sun rise and didn't seem to mind as much waiting at a long light. I saw art and sometimes irony in backups and tail lights. I saw power in the clean lines of modern buildings against the sky.
Of course there are more benefits to all this. It gives my husband and I a chance to spend time together...the kids think these rides are boring! It's something that doesn't tax him physically. It's relaxing and relives stress and that is never a bad thing. I guess you could say it's healthy!
Lately my camera's been gathering dust...I didn't realize how mundane my view of my world had become until I picked it up again on Monday. I was surprised all over again with the wonder of what I saw. Kinda like putting on a new pair of glasses when you had gotten use to fuzzy vision with the old pair.
The best thing is you can't have that type of wonder and not feel at one with what you see and somehow that brings a feeling of peace. Not a bad thing from a little picture.
Posted by aster1961 at 07:43 AM
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November 02, 2004
The Power of the Vote
I just got back from voting. You know what I like best about it. President Bush and Sen. Kerry have no more power than me at shaping the future of this country at that moment we cast our ballots.
In that moment of time I'm just as powerful as anyone. My voice counts in equal measure. That's pretty powerful.
Posted by aster1961 at 10:14 AM
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