I came across this dramatic photograph by ‘ns’…from there I traced ‘ns’ to ‘natsar’ and finally to Natalia Sarkissian. What beautiful work from this woman. A pleasant discovery…
Please visit the other work by Natalia Sarkissian
Archive for the 'life' Category
In the News: It is beyond dutiful, to remember the United States holiday of Memorial Day. It is a time to remember those that perished in the service of their country. It has become a broader remembrance of our loved ones who have passed on. I believe that is a good thing, as long as somewhere in the recesses of the mind there is a squaring up and paying of respect to those that died fighting wars; those that served and women that waited.
Memorial Day at my parents grave. They Served Then and Thereafter.
I grew up in a neighborhood that joined together on such holidays as Memorial Day to display flags and seemingly act reverential. People new people who had perished in WWII or Korea. My parents never went on and on about my dad’s service. I won’t either. He served. He saw. He internalized. He suffered. He and my mom paid a price. It should be memorialized for more than one day in your mind and heart. Bless my parents.
No politicizing, patronizing, flag waving, flag burning, moralizing, pontificating….seriously bow your head and say a prayer for those that lost their lives in some hell hole. The least you can do today. I guess that is sermonizing.
TOMORROW’S EVERY DAY IN MAY WRITING CHALLENGE TOPIC: INSPIRATION/ASPIRATION
ALL THE EVERY DAY IN MAY WRITING CHALLENGE TOPICS DAY BY DAY
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27
May
12
Life Seeking Light by SwittersB
For the longest time, there was a pile, a very high pile of ’stuff’ my Aunt accumulated that extended the long length of a fence line. Tarps, boards, garbage and hoarded stuff rose upward and crested the top of the eight foot high fence. That long pile of stuff is gone. Now light reaches the plank boards of the fence and beautiful bushes on the other side reach for the new found light.
Seeking The Light
Seeking The Light Too
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I have been tending to one of those entrepreneurial events called a garage sale. Part of the marketing ploy beyond Craigslist is stapling and nailing your signage to a pole, which points the way to the place, time, and event. Sometimes there are so many nails and staples in the telephone pole that one can barely gain purchase when attempting to place your hand crafted cardboard sign. Oh, please don’t admonish me about the illegality of it all…
Marketing Venue by SwittersB
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EVERY DAY IN MAY CHALLENGE TOPICS, DAY BY DAY
Lessons Learned. Potentially the biggest topic of the whole crazy May Write-A-Thon. But alas, many will be off doing the holiday weekend bit…Memorial Day. So, I will keep it short and sweet.
Patience, Patience, Patience, Patience, Patience, Patience
Whether fishing, camping, teaching, mentoring, sharing, encouraging, loving, waiting, talking, listening….patience. You know if this applies to you or if it doesn’t. You really don’t get too many chances, too many mistakes in this particular part of life. Don’t be a jerk.
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Checklists
At least yearly prepare a checklist of fishing gear, camping gear, survival gear, camera gear, first aid gear. If you fish for multiple species with different rods, reels, gear bags, fly boxes it is important to make sure gear you need for one trip (Steelhead) isn’t stowed away in another gear bag (Stillwater stuff) that isn’t making the trip. Even if you only fish for one species keep the list if you infrequently fish. Things I have forgotten: wading boots, fins, spare spools/lines, raincoat, stocking cap, gloves, camera, fishing license/tags, tippet material, my ass if it wasn’t attached.
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Fitness
Age, injuries, surgeries, dwindling health….take a toll over time. I recall not too many years ago wading against fast thigh high waters, carrying heavy gear uphill, kicking and rowing across a big lake. I have seen a chain reaction because of injuries and surgeries. Most of these are because of car accidents, falls and impacts. Maybe more of those could have been avoided. But, aside from injuries/surgeries/recovery-rehab, there is general fitness that must be maintained as one gets older….do it!
Life Interruptus
Keep the faith. If you have life’s commitments, ‘bumism’ will end. I use to fish a minimum of one or two days a week for quite a few years. Responsibilities caught up. It became impossible to fish more than a dozen times a year and finally a half dozen times a year. How in the hell can a guy that writes a fly fishing blog fish so few times? I have remarked about it before: parent’s medical conditions, appointments, work, hospice, deaths, estate cleanup, prioritizing family needs…on and on. Time, energy, focus are diverted away. And then, if you have kept the faith small windows of opportunity open. Take a breath. Stand up. Find those old checklists. Reassemble the gear. Keep it simple. Go! My opportunities are finally reappearing. I’m ready. Heck, I’ve been tying enough flies to fill a shop.
See, simple truths…simple reminders. You already knew all this. A refresher of sorts.
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This photograph is not so great from a photographic perspective. Why I took it, is that after all the very heavy rains this past week all the poppy’s but one were beaten down to the flower bed. One survived and stood tall. I snapped a quick shot…a the ‘glass is half full’ shot. My Aunt died this past February. She so loved her poppy plant.
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Every Day in May Writer’s Challenge Topics List Day by Day
My youngest son, at 9 years old, already comfortable in a tube and catching fish bigger than I catch today. I got him there, prepared him, nurtured him, encouraged and praised. He gave me a memory. (1999)
This is difficult…’memory’? Do I recount the many blessed memories on the water, in the outdoors? Or discuss my dwindling recollection capacity of late. On one end the memories are coming in and on the other end, there is a leak of sorts. The memories fade and some stay prominent for whatever reasons.
Fortunately, I have glimpses of memories of my own early fly fishing. Small, brief snippets of narrow, intimate streams with overhanging trees, little pockets beneath the tree harboring Cutthroat Trout. I can see the trout slashing upward to take the fly. The process was simpler then: rubberized canvas hip boots, a box, an inexpensive Sears & Roebuck “Ted Williams” rod/reel. I made due with the waters my dad took me near while camping. There were no day trips. Fishing was confined to camping outings, year to year.
Later, I would be in charge of my own destiny and memory creation. Fishing at times was three times a week. Day outings for Steelhead, Salmon and Trout were frequent and productive. Camping, always by selected waters was and still is the norm. Backpacking was for an end point of Brook Trout. A hike had a pack, hiking boots and a fly rod. Joyful, productive, full of memories for sure.
My youngest son a few years back on East Lake (Oregon). Quite at ease.
Soon, I would bring three sons along and all by eight or nine years of age could fly fish on a lake or stream and catch their memories of Trout, Steelhead or Salmon. Today, I notice my son’s lives are busy, complex and denying them much time on the water. I hope that changes for them beyond the once a year camping trip to wet a line. They need their time on the water, in the water, staring at the water to distract and renew.
I do know my teaching, encouraging, mentoring those I care about in the sport has been most rewarding in a self serving way. I was going to say non-selfish, but truth be told, I taught my loved ones so I would have company while fishing. It is limiting to be fishing knowing others are waiting back at camp or the rig for your return. The clock ticks. The clock doesn’t exist if they are twenty yards down river or across the lake solving their puzzle.
I do wish my memory was better. It is not an indication of caring or worthiness. Things are just fuzzier. Memories stored, and no one to prompt the retrieval or reminder via “do you remember that time when……..” I have kept journals and have taken many photo’s. Those are excellent tools to recall the memory. So, I need to keep creating the memories on the front end…so do you!
Tomorrow’s Every Day in May Challenge Topic: Shoreline
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Awhile back, I stopped by the Winona Fly Factory blog. There was a message from JC that he was taking a break for a bit…a ‘hiatus’. I checked back this morning to see the entire blog account has been suspended. This is deeply saddening.
I came upon this sign last week. I took a picture of it. It was on a wall in a cabin. It seemed hopeful of making it through a struggle, a journey.
Without knowing the circumstances, I do want to say that Justin’s work at Winona Fly Factory was some of the best out there. His site was innovative, real and inspiring. Sometimes life dishes out such overwhelming, mind/heart crushing events, that we come to a screeching halt to survive…to hunker down, to endure, to grieve, to process, to slowly rebuild, to re-emerge. I do wish the very best to that inspiring young man.
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“Community groups across the country are scrambling to save some 500 lighthouses the federal government has recently declared surplus. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is looking to replace the structures with beacons that would sit atop metal poles.” (more). In 2010 the Canadian Govt. placed 1000 lighthouses in surplus status. 500 were inactive then and 500 were still active…the ones in question now.
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This photograph captures one of my most enjoyable times. The last light on a lake or river. I was heading back across the lake. The sun was setting. It would be dark when I finally returned to the far side. The glimmer of light on the water’s surface is still inviting as I continue to see large fish slashing for a large Caddis coming off. Tempting to stay for a while longer, but I hate stumbling around in the dark too, putting away gear.
