Crack the Whip, a life-scale bronze sculpture of children at play in a circle, cast by Seward Johnson in 1984.
And one non statue who wanted to play too
The Weekly Smile
A few weeks ago my weekly smile was receiving an invitation to a wedding from a young girl I had mentored from 2004 until 2008. I volunteered in a “Big Sister”/Mentoring program and I was paired up with a young girl who had a troubled home life and needed some time away from it once a week after school for a few hours. This young girl was 10 or 11 at the time, and we would go out to eat and talk, or go shopping and then out to eat. There were 6 kids in the family and a mother who couldn’t really handle it, a father rarely home, the house was a mess, no order whatsoever. The older kids seemed to be keeping things running. Her age belied her maturity- she was introspective about the home situation and accepting of it, her intelligence allowing her to see the bigger picture and make sense of it all. I stayed in the role of “big sister” for about 4 years until she was a teenager and busy with school and going out with her friends. I have not thought of her in years, actually forgetting about this volunteering of so long ago-that had ended in 2008 .
Last month I received a wedding invitation from this young girl- now a young woman. I was very touched and so surprised that she had not only remembered me but had taken the time to send me an invitation.
Last night was the wedding- and as I approached her to say hello, not sure if she would recognize me, she immediately called my name and came over to hug me. She told me how happy she was to receive my response card that I was coming. She then went on to tell me she had saved all the letters I had written to her when she was in sleep away camp as a child, and that is how she had my address. It was all I could do to hold back the tears I felt welling up in my eyes along with the lump in my throat.
I watched as she came down the aisle embarking on the beginning of her new life, thinking back to the child I had spent time with. Remembering again how we never know the impact we may have in someone’s life, and the imprint we may leave on the them.
Travel theme: Walking
Black & White Sunday: On Top
Paula has invited us to show her “on top” this week. I am always fascinated by birds that choose to sit on the lone highest branch on top of a tree. Balancing there, looking out, acting the sentinel perhaps. Here are some I have captured
and then there was the Guinea Hen who did not seem to mind straddling himself on top of this fence.
Song Lyric Sunday
The theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is to post a song about the parent/child relationship.I have chosen the song Lullabye-Goodnight My Angel-by Billy Joel. It was inspired by 7 year old Alexa Ray Joel, his daughter by Christie Brinkley. He wrote it in response to her question, “Where do we go when we die?”
My favorite part of the song is the last 2 verses:
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me
And if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me
Someday we’ll all be gone
But lullabyes go on and on…
They never die
That’s how you
And I
Will be
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
Goodnight, my angel
Time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you’ve been asking me
I think you know what I’ve been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you’ve been asking me
I think you know what I’ve been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away
Goodnight, my angel
Now it’s time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I’m rocking you to sleep
The water’s dark
And deep inside this ancient heart
You’ll always be a part of me
Goodnight, my angel
Now it’s time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me
Someday we’ll all be gone
But lullabyes go on and on…
They never die
That’s how you
And I
Will be
Ambience
Color Your World – Sepia
Thursday’s Special: Unfocused
Paula has asked us to unfocus this week. I always seem to lose focus a bit when it rains. The lack of sun, the dreariness the rain brings with it.
One Word Photo Challenge: Dragonfly
Travel theme: Quiet
Black & White Sunday: Passage
Who Says A Beach Chair is Just for the Beach?
Yesterday brought the first real snow of the season, it snowed the entire day, but fortunately did not add up to that much. By evening there was about 6 inches on the ground and it was light and fluffy and not a problem to shovel. The temps are bitter cold, last night 16, and today 23 and windy making it feel colder. I fed the birds all day yesterday, I always feel so bad when the snow doesn’t let up and they must be so hungry. This morning the sun appeared, and though it was only 18 degrees, I decided to sit outside with my coffee and watch the birds.
Sunrise….
I filled the feeder and scattered some seed and sat and watched my feathered friends appear.
BlueJay
I sat drinking my coffee for about 45 minutes, my presence going unnoticed, even though I was just a few feet away from the buffet. I looked up to see a Hawk flying above, and landing on the very top of a 40 foot pine tree overlooking the yard, surveying what I assume he considered to be his buffet. I kept an eye on him and ventured into the yard to zoom in to get a shot of him. He then flew off in a different direction.
Perfect way to start the day and set the tone for the rest of it!
What’s in a Name?
My mother thought when she chose the name Lisa for me it was a different, uncommon name that sounded pretty to her. Apparently so did many of the other mothers the year I was born, as I was rarely the only Lisa in my class growing up. We were all known as Lisa with whatever initial our last names started with.
My husband didn’t know his true given name until he was 10, when he asked what his “real” name was. He had always been called Sender. His given name was Alexander, which had been shortened to the nick name of Sender, not an uncommon name when someone of Jewish heritage came from Poland. (If someone were from Hungary, the name used would have been Sandor.) When I began exploring his family tree I found the name Alexander was that of both his great, great grandfather, and his great grandfather. They had also been known as Sender.
Jewish tradition (among Ashkenazic Jews) is to name after those who are deceased. I never really thought much about it until my mother in law died and that same year 3 of her granddaughters gave birth to girls. They were all named Esther for her. A few years later her grandson had a girl and also named her Esther.I then realized how nice a tradition it is, reminding us of the person, remembering that person.
According to the Talmud, the naming of a Jewish child is a most profound moment. For at the beginning of life we give a name, and at the end of life a “good name” is all we take with us.
My mother in law Esther
Her namesakes
Winter Light
I leave for work at 7:45 in the morning and my work day ends at 4:45. The sky is dark in November and December as I get into my car, the sun having set earlier. During the day I am fortunate to work in a building that has an indoor bridge connecting two buildings, which I cross many times during the day. This is my view in fall and winter
I am glad to have the view since daylight will be gone when I leave.
Now that we have passed the winter solstice, the days are becoming longer once again. Yesterday I came out of work to find the sun had not yet set. As I drove home I followed the red of the setting sun against the clouds, and then decided to stop and take it in. I didn’t mind the cold biting at me, I was intent on just being in the moment. This was my view
Sometimes it is just stopping for that moment and being in the moment that can make the biggest difference in how we feel, and allow us to forget whatever else may be going on. I was glad I stopped.
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Dark and Light
A Photo a Week Challenge: Fresh
I always associate the word fresh with flowers
From here……
To here….now that’s fresh!
A Photo A Week
Cee’s Which Way
Finish…
Wordless Wednesday
Rainy Day Tuesday
It rained all day yesterday and it’s raining again today. No complaints from me as it is January and it could very well be snow! One more day closer to spring I keep saying. However, it is dreary, and though I am indoors all day it still somehow sets the mood. I’ll share some of the photos I took last week that bring some sunshine to an otherwise gray and wet day.
Sunset after a rainstorm last week, I did nothing to alter the color- the sky was absolutely amazing!
A Bluejay with no fear of the cold
Afternoon around a local pond
A goose sharing space with Hooded Merganser ducks
Sleeping Goose
Year
Another year gone by. My birthday happens to be December 31st, so I am not only reminded that the calendar year turns over, but also am reminded that I am turning the page on another year of life. What’s in a year? We never know what’s to come and the older I get the less I think about it.
2012 brought loss- a friend I had been caring for for 18 months died, we lost our 17 year old cocker spaniel, I broke my elbow which took me on a journey I had never experienced and hope never to repeat. 2013 took me back into the world of working, new friends, new life. I started my blogging journey- making new connections and taking up photography. 2014 brought back my love for the beach and ocean. 2015 brought more loss- two close friends quite unexpectedly, my brother’s passing, changing my perspective on the future, changing my thoughts on never taking a day for granted, there are no guarantees.
What’s in a year? Milestones reached, family gatherings, day trips, smiles, tears, laughter, fun, joy, birth, death. Hope for the year to come. Hope that those we love will be with us throughout the year. Hope.
Travel theme: Leaves
Good Morning New Year!
I started the year off by visiting my favorite local trail and seeing if the squirrels who live in a tree house there were home. I wrote about them previously here.
I looked up and made some “clucking” type noises to see if anyone would come out and say hello.
After a minute or so he peeked out to see who was there….
and then a Happy New Year hello
and then he disappeared back into the warmth of his home!
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
Weeky Photo Prompt: Resilient
Our Uncle Yakob, who lived a long and healthy life until his passing at the age of 107. Resilient he was, fleeing Poland at the onset of WWII, going to Germany, Italy, Panama and eventually finding his way to the United States. He lived his life with a positive outlook which we try to take a lesson from. 
My grandfather planted this tree when I was born, it was just a sapling at that time. It has grown these 59 years and still remains standing. Though my grandfather is gone 20 years, I had the opportunity a few years ago to visit his home and the present owners let me walk around and there I found the tree still standing.
taken in the early 1970’s
The amazing Chickadee. Able to withstand the harsh winters of the Northeast, showing resilience through and through
Cee’s Black & White Challenge: Open Topic
Cee has left the topic open for this week- suggesting we post some of our favorite black and whites over the year.
Here are some of mine
So long 2016…..
Thursday’s Special: Retrospective
Paula has asked us this week to join her in this challenge and show her what our 2016 was like. She asked we choose 12 of our best photographs – they don’t have to be from 12 different months, but photographs that we think represent best your year.
Always looking up
A Day In The Life 
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