Tag: black and white photography

a little bit of new york in my life, last part

The last three posts have been about images from my time in New York. Specifically, a meditation on my home and family on Long Island, and my stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge. This post contains a few “leftovers” from my time in Lower Manhattan and features The Oculus and a single subway image. If you enter “Oculus” in the search box to the left you can check out my other images of the amazing Oculus.

a little bit of new york in my life, part 2

Part 2 of images from my first stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge.

a little bit of new york in my life, part 1

I have been on a three month sabbatical that will end at the end of July. One of my goals during this time was to spend time in New York with my dad and siblings. My previous post came out of my time in New York. In all the years spent growing up on Long Island, and then years going back to visit New York – we have lived in the Midwest since 1988 – I never walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. So, I decided to take a stroll on that beautiful bridge. Here is what I saw, part 1. Thanks for stopping by.

sons and brothers

sons and brothers
brothers and sons
may you carry well
the love i tried to share with you
magnify any wisdom
you may have seen or heard
please forgive me
when you were young
i was trying to figure it out too
and it still feels like i am beginning
and now you walk together
and can see more
as you share the path
tell each other the story
of your movements through this world
and through my shadows
you may see me
as i hoped to be
as i was
and as i am
know i hold you both
the breadth and length
of you stories
are tucked away in my heart
an endless album
of images and melodies
from the day
the music of your tears
announced your birth
to this moment
as you read these words
i hold you both
in love
in honor
with pride
with joy
my sons
my dear sons
love one another

jewels in my soul

and there were threads in the garden
and there were stars in the leaves
and there jewels on the flowers
and there were diamonds in the webs
and there were threads in my mind
tethered to sorrow
beauty
lament
wonder
love
and there were stars in my heart
sparkling memories
regrets
dreams
loss
hope
and there were jewels in my soul
brilliantly reflecting
the promises
of my heavenly Papa
the redemption
of the Lamb
the deliverance
from the shadows
of my brokenness
and there were diamonds
all around
family
friends
love
companionship
a smile
an encouraging word
gratitude
melodies
light
beauty
song

labor day vibes

The day began with a beautiful sunrise, courtesy of the Illinois River.

Then my wife and I worked on a small wallpaper project in our main floor bathroom. No one was hospitalized, the bathroom looks great, and we are still married. The true test of a couple’s emotional health is their ability to finish a wallpaper project!

Finally, hopped on the Kawasaki and took a ride to the wind farms on this beautiful day.

Hope you have a wonderful week. Thanks for stopping by.

glimpses of guatemala 1

Greetings! The blog has been quiet because for the third year in a row I have left the US for beautiful Guatemala. Each year our church partners with a church in San Lucas Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. We build homes for the poor in El Zapote, do basic medical and first aid training and other ministries. As you can see, we also enjoyed Lake Atitlan. Part 2 soon. Thanks for stopping by.

nassau county international cricket stadium

I grew up enjoying Eisenhower Park, near my home town of East Meadow. This park is larger than Central Park in New York City. I have wonderful memories of family picnics, winter sledding (my two brothers on top of my dad zooming down a steep hill), the amazing July 4th fireworks, and so much more. On my recent trip back home I once again headed to the park to enjoy a nice long walk. I was stunned to see this massive stadium being built! It is being built for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The entire work area is fenced off, so this is the best I could do at 5′ 7″! Thanks for stopping by.

endless sky and sea

i’ll try
and tell you why
this endless
sea and sky
brings to me
a sense of grace
it’s a calming space
memories of family
my little legs
running away from the waves
or dancing above the hot sand
shivering in the Atlantic cold
maybe i’ll be bold
and just jump right in
and swim
on the crest of this swell
crashing down now
in a swirl of briny sand
tossed and thrown
upon the shore
i always got up
and ran in for more
i remember dad
first taking my hand
then lifting me in his arms
as he marched into the sea
delighted and frightened
it’s all right
i’ll hold on tight
the waves don’t seem
to bother him at all
and if i stood still
at the edge
of the arriving
and departing ocean
i thought it was neat
that the sand would
steal my feet
could it just
swallow all of me
into the salted sea
it tasted so good to me
the roar and crashing waves
were like a melody
and at the end of the day
the world felt okay
it was so good to be
with family
by the endless sky
and sea

all is well

a slow meandering
upon the ancient sands
the sea reminding me
how small i truly am
and that’s totally okay
much more
behind me
than before me
a few less steps remain
the waves will sing
long after my last breath
sometimes
i just want to stop
and join the clouds and sea
just melt into
the horizonless dance
and stay
listen
and pray
it can all feel
so weary
still
i journey on
back to go forward
reaching into the ocean of stories
looking for that perfect shell
listening for all is well
remembering the glory
still to come
yesterdays
just fly away
even memories
are fading
is anyone staying
we are alone
ever together with our life
and with others
we are alone