Tag: Photography

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Future

~ oneletterup ~ 18 Comments

Inspired by Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #83: Future

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Today was all about the future.

It was voting day in New Hampshire.

I live in the state which holds the first Primary in the race for President of the United States. Hordes of candidates have been campaigning here during the last year. Speeches. Rallies. Town Halls. Visits to local diners. Television and radio ads. Much shaking of hands and thousands of selfies.

I won’t go into all the drama and teeth gnashing that defines today’s politics. Much of it polarizing and potentially toxic within families and friendships – where differences of opinion exist.

This is not about a particular candidate.

What I want to focus on here is the wonder of living in a country where we actually have the right to vote. A chance to shape our future.

Express our opinions, as diverse as they are. Hopefully with respect.

Sometimes that goes well and sometimes it doesn’t.

Today it went well. I was more than happy to wait for a parking place at the packed voting site. It signaled a large voter turnout. People taking this responsibility seriously. Perhaps it meant less voter apathy. I hope I’m right.

To vote is to put your voice to work for everyone’s future. All the candidates promise – in one way or another – a better future. Whether that be health care, tackling climate change, jobs…and my favorite since my teenage years: promoting peace. World peace. How we all need to get along…better.

I was greeted by campaign reps standing outside with their signs. Media personnel conducting random interviews.

No shouting. Just friendly hellos and smiles.

primary walk

 

voting sign
Once inside…

 

booths
…show ID and find a booth

As a two party system, you must choose a Democratic or Republican ballot for a primary election.

ballot
My ballot

So many choices.
[As far as I know, a $1,000.00 filing fee is all that’s needed to get your name on the ballot]

Last but not least…leave the pen!

pen

 

Let’s hope we vote for a bright and prosperous future for us all.

Time will tell.

Sunshine’s Macro Monday: Drops

~ oneletterup ~ 31 Comments

Inspired by Sunshine’s Macro Monday #28

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A soft rain was falling one day last week during a trip to the grocery store. Almost a mist. No wind. Cold, but not freezing.

I didn’t pay much attention…until I was ready to start the car and drive home. After buckling my seat belt, I realized not much was visible from any of the car windows…except a light pole across the street.

Tiny circles (and light poles) everywhere.

window drops

Once I started driving, they slid away and disappeared.

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Geometric Shapes

~ oneletterup ~ 13 Comments

Inspired by:
Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Any Kind of Geometric Shape
citysonnet February photo a day challenge: Abandoned

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Last Fall I discovered that a longtime business in my former home town was closing. A Hallmark affiliate, it had been a mainstay in the community for decades. I made a stop the week before it shut down for good. It is always sad to see a store in the throws of going out of business. The card racks mostly empty. Display cases for sale. Jewelry, wrapping paper, stationary…gone. I remember buying holiday cards here. Birthday cards. Photo albums.

The brick building housing this Hallmark store and a number of others lining the main street dates back to the mid 1900s (or earlier).

I noticed the back of the store was roped off – for the most part – but my curiosity won out and I carefully stepped over scraps of carpet, sheetrock and shelving to investigate.

Part of a side wall had been cut away…revealing an abandoned door to what once was.

abandoned door

 

 

Time for a Rest

~ oneletterup ~ 15 Comments

Inspired by Frank at Dutch goes the Photo: Rest

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A baby at rest.

A welcome sight for a sleep deprived new mom.

At 5 months old, my daughter often found it difficult to wind down. Close her eyes and take a rest. A nap even. So many exciting happenings in her baby world. Lights. Smiles. Laughs. Talking. Music. Hugs. Books. Sunshine. Mama’s Milk. Bananas. Cereal. Baby walker exploring. Johnny Jump-Up calisthenics.

She never wanted to miss a thing. Still doesn’t.

Resting happened wherever she happened to be.

resting baby034 2

Which was fine with me.

Happy Birthday Firstborn!

Whispering Wind

~ oneletterup ~ 21 Comments

Inspired by V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #82: whisper

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whisper sunset

 

Whispering wind came uninvited.

This lyric popped into my head the moment I saw V.J.’s challenge topic this week. And there it remained. No matter what I did.

The first line from a song almost 50 years old.

A song I discovered as a teenager.

But should I use it for this challenge? Surely there are other more relevant options…

I could write about the behind-my-back whispering I endured as an awkward too-tall glasses-wearing 12 year old trying to fit in with the cool kids. While pretending everything was fine. And holding back the tears.

Or, at home, how whispering meant something was off…not as it should be. Somehow…tilted. One more secret to swallow. Remember. Always on alert. My stomach in knots.

Don’t tell your sister. Don’t tell your grandparents. Don’t tell your father.

Just plain don’t tell. What will people say?

Or else.

There are no witnesses to a whisper.

So…whisper…not a comfortable topic to revisit. As it led to secrets and shaming and being left out. No need to relive that.

There it was again…whispering wind…

Here’s the thing…I’ve finally learned to honor the flashing signs that appear in my head.

So here goes…

The song in question was written by Carole King and is included on her 1971 album “Music” – the album that followed my all time favorite “Tapestry.”

 

Song of Long Ago
Words and Music by Carole King

Whispering wind came uninvited
Looking for somewhere else to go
Here is a lamp I’ve left unlighted
Aren’t you someone I should know?

Memory’s flame is soon ignited
Lighting my lamp with amber glow
Quietly friends are reunited
Singing a song of long ago, la la la

Cry, cry for someone
Who just can’t be happy
And be glad you can feel enough to cry

Younger than always, time descended
Bringing me brand new seeds to sow
Now that they’ve been a long time planted
What must I do to help them grow?

If it had been as I intended
I wouldn’t have the peace I know
Loving the people I’ve befriended
And singing the song of long ago, la la la

As it began, so I will end it
Singing a song of long ago
Loving the people I’ve befriended
And singing the song of long, long, long ago.

I hadn’t listened carefully to Song of Long Ago in many years…until now.

What a difference – in perspective – a lifetime can make…in the listening.

Whispering wind…as relevant as ever.

By the way…Happy Birthday to Carole King.

She will be 78 years old this Sunday, February 9th.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Capitals

~ oneletterup ~ 19 Comments

Inspired by Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #82: Capitals

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I have visited Washington DC, the capital of the United States, many times.

My first trip to DC was with my Cadette Girl Scout troop when I was 13. A very long time ago…but I do remember a few highlights of that long weekend: staying in an old brick hotel, getting in trouble for using the room phone to call boys across the alley at a different hotel and visiting a science museum where an “elephantiasis leg” was on display in a tall glass case. Yup, some poor departed soul’s diseased leg floating in murky fluid proved both fascinating and mesmerizing to my young scientist mind. I have no photos of that trip. Which is probably just as well.

However, as luck would have it, my adult children now live in DC. As well as my grandson. Excellent reasons to visit!

In 2012, we made the rounds of a few tourist destinations.

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pond.

DC reflecting pond
September 2012

A visit to the National Portrait Gallery.

gallery
The year before – in June, 2011 – we spent Father’s Day weekend with our son – including taking in a baseball game at Washington Nationals Park.

baseball

Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered this between innings. A Gluten Free food booth!

GF food
And last – but not least – we returned to further explore the Smithsonian National Museum of American History…which always includes a pilgrimage to the display case featuring Elizabeth Cotten’s Guitar.

My guitar player husband insists on it and a respectful moment of silence ensues.

Cotten guitar

 

Sunshine’s Macro Monday: Winterberries

~ oneletterup ~ 15 Comments

Inspired by Sunshine’s Macro Monday #27

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Last week it was “warm” enough for a relatively comfortable walk through the woods in back of my condo building. A sunny mid-afternoon in winter is an opportune time to catch the light – despite freezing temperatures. I lasted almost an hour before my fingers were too cold to operate the camera.

I never know what I will discover.

Much to my surprise (mostly because I am no plant expert and don’t expect anything colorful to survive winter), I noticed clumps of red dangling among the eternal browns and dull greens around me.

I am guessing these welcome splashes of color are winterberries…

A few winter survivors…still hanging on…

winter berries

An Irregular Regular

~ oneletterup ~ 12 Comments

Inspired by V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #81: regulars

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IMG_6457

 

I see you here more often than most of the wait staff!

I looked up.

It was one of the waitresses.

I recognized her – 50-ish, tall, dressed in the black non-uniform worn by all the staff…a front apron pocket stuffed with pens and order pads. She tended to march from table to table. Very business like. An air of efficiency. The woman who called everyone Honey.

She had spotted me sitting at the table I usually request – at the rear of the restaurant – in a quieter section where chairs are straight backed and kind to my osteoporotic spine. I was alone, waiting for a friend to join me for lunch. Studying the menu…which was unnecessary really, as I practically had it memorized.

I wasn’t sure what her comment was meant to convey. Was it a positive? A negative? Her expression…non-committal…perhaps even a bit stern…as if this was an announcement of some significance. And I was missing the point.

I do tend to overthink…while at the same time always curious as to why people say what they say. So I plunged ahead…

You have a great – and varied – gluten free menu. It is hard to find a restaurant that takes it seriously for those of us with celiac disease. I really appreciate the care you take here.

She nodded. Agreed with me. And off she went…or rather…marched.

I am also a member of their Loyalty Program – points and a free lunch after 10 visits. Ten salads with chicken and hold the onions and dressing on the side. And please remember the warm gluten free roll. They usually do.

Apparently I am a regular, although for reasons I am still trying to understand…I am not entirely comfortable with it.

I’d much rather be the observer than the observed.