What follows is the post I was unable to put up on 5/24/12 due to technical difficulties. While I was not able to fix them I have worked around them. It seems a fitting post for today…
The past was very much with me today. Fleet Week started and to kick it off we had a parade of Tall Ships up the Hudson. When I was a boy reading the Horatio Hornblower series I used to imagine myself on one of these boats. (now, the idea…not so much) They went up to The GW Bridge and then back down to the Intrepid Museum. I was lucky enough to be able to break away and get to the river so I could shoot them.
Then, I came back home to prepare for sadder event, the memorial service for a good friend, the Mom of one of our best friends. It was a very special event. So many people came that they had to move us to the larger room in the Chapel. The mom was a Middle School teacher (she taught for 60+! years) and after the family spoke (the granddaughter was especially funny and touching) the Rabbi asked if any one else wanted to say a few words. At least 6 of her (recent) former students came up to talk about how much Mrs. C had meant to them and they all had deeply individual and personal stories. It was very moving.
Then back home to change. The family was Sitting Shiva and I wanted to drop by for a few minutes before getting my allergy shots. Again, many more people than they had expected. She lived a good and long life and worked up until about 6 months ago. Truly a life to emulate.
For a different kind of remembrance, please go to Andra Watkins, Accidental Cootchie Mama, Lady Liberty Fans The Flame Of Memory.
May 29th, 2012 at 8:25 am
A lovely account of a lady who made a difference; the photos were magnificent! The ships; the planes; the plane…thank you for these.
May 29th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Thank you. She was a good woman and apparently a great teacher.
May 28th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
That certainly sounds like a life well lived.
Fantastic pictures!
May 29th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Thanks! She did have a good life and lived it well.
May 28th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
So glad to see these beautiful and haunting pictures of the tall ships on Memorial Day. Your story reminds me that what we dream of doing as a child might not be what we do when we are grown, and we may never know how much we’ve touched others with whatever it is we do. All of us who grew up wanting to make a difference need t recognize that sometimes that difference is made one person at a time, one relationship at a time, one encounter at a time.
May 29th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Thank you for commenting. What you say is very true.
May 28th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Nice photographs..
May 29th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Thank you. Thanks for visiting
May 28th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
You do have some beautiful captures here. The ships are all lovely.
May 29th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Thanks!
May 28th, 2012 at 11:44 am
Awesome pictures, Robert. I love the misty tall ship ones.
May 29th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Thanks Andra. And thanks for the mention. Your series about your Dad has kicked off to a great start!