It’s a wrap
You go through the holidays. We got through the first leg – Thanksgiving. Christmas to come, it should be ever interesting. We managed to pull it off. Smiles! We had some. And there were members of the family who would have rather avoided the camera but reluctantly posed. Jen scrapbooks. A lot of the group shots are for her. And we will do it once more next year. I hope. Meanwhile my cats remain ever obedient and climb right up on the table whenever I call.
About time
It’s about time for the annual family shot – Colleen, me, and the seven cats. They march up onto the table and I shoot with the remote control and tripod. Simple. Easy.
This year the pandemic is over. Is it? To all intents and purposes it is hard to find many masks and precautions. We are not taking risks. But pretty much wherever we go there are few admonitions or masks. People are still hospitalized and dying. Our social exposure is slowly ramping up. For the first time in several years we will have a family gathering at Thanksgiving. Good luck to all.
Retro
Photography? No, I think I was more photojournalist. I documented events – birthdays, holidays, food, family. Photography came later. I was parsimonious – cheap! So, I shot more than most people and way less than I do since digital is “free.” Boy, oh boy, was I bad (photographer) way back then. Hey, I knew how to focus and take a picture. Fine art, it wasn’t! Food photography? I shot dishes we prepared for big family dinners. The turkey was not styled for a good photo. It tasted far better? (It looks overdone.) And the holidays were a documentation of the litany of presents bought, given, and received. Funny, I still do that. I did it this past Xmas. It’s a record. Someone might find it nostalgic in a few decades from now. But photography? I do both. Now. History or art? I don’t try to overthink it. I am happy to say there are plenty of pictures. I do not look back too often. Like time, I am always in forward mode. (Shhh… Lisa took the pics of me.)
Slow down
Though she tries, Colleen has been unable to filter me. Hey! Who doesn’t like the holidays? We like them though they are stressful and lots of work. Really? Ummm… well… we have lots to do. I am, sometimes, beside myself. Slow down! Let things unfold slowly and naturally. And, yet, we have a good time, too. That, there picture would be Charles Dickens great grandson performing a one man show of Christmas Carol. For real! Yes!
Strange things happen during the holidays. Masks were still in – style. And, the non sequiturs? Don’t ask, I take odd and strange photos, too. The pink juicer has been our unicorn for years. Buy it?!
It was the year of the gnome. What do our cats know from Xmas? Our youngest. It used to be, that you dressed up all formal for Xmas. No more. PJ’s are just fine! Cuteness is independent of fashion. Have I worn a tie since I retired?
July 4th
We don’t. We don’t July 4th. Not much anymore. I have mixed feeling, since living in Saudi and having gone thru the Trump years. For us the flag is now associated with the conservative “big lie” Republicans. Sure enough, we ran into a bunch in our conservative town on this day back years ago. Frankly, it’s sickening. Rah rah. Democracy is demonized and the flag never felt more like the connotation of “love it or leave it.” I don’t feel much like a part of that “gang.” When did America stop opening its arms to the “tired, poor, and huddled masses? It’s just so hard to cling to any hope. Colleen is an optimist. She will never give up believing in “good.” I will do so because she is my hope.
Family grouping
We didn’t change much. Colleen and I are identical triplets and everyone came in for dinner at the holidays. We were a family gathering of less than 10. You know how it goes, triplets tend to dress alike. We couldn’t resist. All safety measures were taken and testing was all negative. Christmas lacked the big roast – the Beef Wellington was in the oven. And, oops, there were four of me at Thanksgiving.
Herding cats
It’s the annual Christmas picture. And I am even posting at an apropos time. Colleen casually drops – “Do you know what? …. We should do….” And then it’s about …. hours, days of work for me. Yeah, I try to ignore her. Dammit! I get sucked in. The cats suffer. We all have to sacrifice…. First I round them up (each cat). They pose only very reluctantly. Seven cats!! Sure, I could just pose one twin twice three times …. no cheating! And then we have to take a shower – hair’s gotta be right! Note: no pants were worn for this photoshoot – by animal or human. (Ha ha) And then it’s hours in photoshop. Yup, it takes time. I’m ok, not great. But the effect…. Hey! Add some text, like merry and happy. Never ever listen – “Do you know what?” …
YES!!! They all just jumped up at once and let me take their picture…. really!! Honest! Truth!
A picture …
…says it all. Peace on earth, good will toward men. All the best from us to you and yours.
Haapy? Thanx?
It’s been a few months since thanksgiving. I guess it’s safe to mention the following:
1. Eating cold turkey is against the spirit of things. Jess made the bird early on the day of. Jeremy read a Youtube on how to carve? Cold turkey? No! It’s roast turkey. That would be hot. A restaurant would not serve cold turkey except in a sandwich. And even then, it’s hot turkey sandwich!
2. Jess has a phobia about germs. Is the turkey done? And she would never ever!!! stuff the bird. We threw out the sponge after it was used to wipe the counter. Yeah?? me too??
3. Expiration date? The broth was just expired. We almost threw the can out. Keep the can, throw out the broth…
4. My true love, Colleen, precisely cut all the stuffing into precise cubes… only to throw everything together and mash it all together in a crock pot. Yes!! Precise cuts, all the while complaining her knife was dull.
5. I admit I sat in awe! I did not say a word. Speechless! I can and have cooked thanksgiving, soup to nuts for years. No one asked. I did not volunteer. I just sat stupefied. How did they all get this far and never know how to make thanksgiving. To me it is akin to watching a train wreck all the while knowing how to do things. … each was happy in ignorant bliss.
6. Have no expectation. Have no disappointment. I wasn’t. ???
7. Next gen – not too much hope there?
8. The official photographer has no duty but ….
9. Turkey is a duty. There is no more stress than on this day when you make something you make once a year and barely remember “how to” from year to year. The NYT Times published hundreds of recipes and “HOW TO’s” in advance; no one reads NYT around here.
10. Yes, that would be “turkey in a bag.” It’s not picturesque. It looks more like a leftover preview. Hey! Dinner. I can’t complain. My feet were up and my fingers clean the whole way through.
Happy Thanksgiving
Pardon me? These wild guys were wandering through the backyard and probably are not adorning anyone’s table today. By chance the other photo – I have been called a “turkey” – slipped into the post serendipitously. It’s appropriate too. To all the scattered family this year, I wish you all a “Happy.”
Memorial Day
Flags are displayed all around. I was struck by the flag on the construction equipment. Was it a political statement or a symbolic salute to the holiday? Things have changed. I feel suspicious of a statement with which I do not agree. Perhaps I am being too sensitive. Or not. It is a symbol and sign of the times we are in.
La la land
Senator Carper asked us to march in a 4th of July parade with him. Yes, US Senator as in Congress of the United States. Don’t ask. It’s a story. We showed up. No one else but the five of us. And only four of us were qualified to vote for him in November. We stood. He stood us up. He was late to his own parade. The town did not wait for him. And his rival (Republicans one and all) turned out followed by hundreds of local supporters. I did not/was not allowed to speak with any one of them. I think there were some of the same guys from before the presidential election. I dearly wanted to insult them again. No dice. The women looked just as hard hearted. #Me too! But I was stunned at the crowd who marched proudly Republican down the street. I did not get it. As in, I didn’t know they were Republican supporters. Egad!!
And then while I melted under a tree, there was a guy across the street handing out free ice cream. For sure! Really! And peruse the sign at the top of the machine. … not if it were the last ice cream place on earth…. Carper didn’t get there in time. We were hot and weren’t gonna wait. He was attending four parades. This was his second. He was gonna be alone. We’ll vote for him in November because the alternative is way worse. For today I saw the Republicans out in force. I cringed. I did not call out. I will live to vote another day.
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