To the Big Apple and Back ... in a day!

So about 2 years ago, I innocently started to follow a lovely gal from Bath, England on her photo blog.  I learned she had lost her fiance (from sudden death)  8 years ago and that photography was what dragged

her out from her depression. I join her 30 day challenge to take your best photo - to literally and figuratively -  find the beauty of the day - and in doing so drag myself from a bit of a funk myself.

She writes so poignantly and includes videos where you can't help but appreciate her strong, self-effacing, down to earth, childlike and joyous spirit.  So I sign on for her online photo class, "Unraveling", that proves to be more therapy than photo instruction.  I LOVED the class.  It proved to be the best thing I have done in years, for many reasons.

But when I hear her first book is published I purchased it in a NY minute. 

 I loved it.   highlighting many a segment.  So when I hear NYC is one of her stops on her book promotion,

and feeling in some strange way, "we are old friends".

 I book a spot and a Megabus ticket to join the event.

But it is hot as hell...

and I have been working like a dog...

and my dogs have been neglected and need a hike...

and I have a lot of chores to do...

(you know the drill)

and think "forget it" but...

Today, at noon, I last minute thought, 

"NOPE, I'M GOING!" 

I tossed my 'to do" list to the wind, jumped in the shower,

drove to 30th Street Station, jumped on my megabus, got off in NYC

and  through the kindness of NY strangers

(who often get the wrap of being a cold and callous lot)
 I reach my destination.

 I find my destination in Brooklyn, NY

(arriving a little late - my MO)

where I am to meet Susannah Conway! 

The event was held on the second floor of an incredible

old winery/restaurant with ambiance abundant.

(okay, these pix don't capture it, but trust me, it was a cool spot)

She individually took time to talk to all,

sign our books and part with a hug as she departs back to England.

She did not disappoint!

 A great Event!

So here I am tonight,  "there and back", "safe and sound" in one day!

So what did I learn this week? 

Impulsive Spontaneity Rocks!

A good book can lead you to great places! 

And this ....

Ahhh... New York!!!

 

Earthly Desires

 Just back from my trip to Ethiopia,
I can't help but get a little dreamy reminiscing about

the fabulous people I've met and places I've visited. 
What an amazing gift travel has been.

i've walked the Great Wall of China,

worked in the famine camps of Ethiopia,

i've been lost in the souks of Marakesh,

mesmerized by the Taj Mahal,

rode the Marakesh Express to Casablanca, 

heard opera in the ancient theatres of Belgium,

shopped Portobello road and climbed the Tower of London,

drank hot chocolate by an inn's hearth at the Grand Place of Belgium,

ate my first truffles in Brussels,  

wandered cobbled streets of Praque where I caught a classical concert in an old cathedral,

saw the Mona Lisa at the Louvre,

walked among the heavenly Himalayas,

watched pink dolphins bob their heads in the muddy water of the Amazon,
perused Jacque Cousteau's Museum in Monaco,

walked freely on the cobbled stone Red Square in Moscow,
and wandered in the glorius St. Basil's Cathedral,

ate at Goethe's cafe in Frankfurt,

was serenaded by a retired violinist as he played the Blue Danube on an endless Siberian night,
visited my birthplace of beautiful Vancouver,
bought a puppet from the vendors on the muddy roads of Tijauna...

 still so much more to see.
more people to meet,
laughs to share.
How blessed I have been for the gift of travel,
and all it has taught me. 

   “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

‎”If at some point you don’t ask yourself, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ then you’re not doing it right.”

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.”

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.”

“One of the great things about travel is that you find out how many good, kind people there are.”

Sweet Sweet Etta

A little mini-tribute

to my sweet old neighbor Etta..

Dear Sweet Etta was my neighbor who was my

welcome mat to Manayunk in 1994.

She LOVED Kenya!

and as she cared for her cranky old friend Joe until his dying day,

they both enjoyed sweet Kenya

and even taught him to sing. 

She watched my home,

she got my mail,

she enjoyed my family and friends,

she brought me stuffed-pepper dinners and homemade baked goods,

and was just always so simply kind...

and LOVED - LOVED my boys...

The best neighbor EVER..

not a mean bone in her body.

When she later moved away

(just up the street)

she was always ready with dog treats when we came to visit.

And even tried just this past August  

 to teach Freddie how to sing like Kenya...

and always cuddle with ole Ollie on her lap
(just a few months ago)

Luckily,

 last night,

I was able to leave work early at 7-pm

and head to Bryn Mawr hospital

where I was able to say good bye to Etta.

At 92, she died hours later.

 ~ Etta ~ 

the kindest, sweetest, dog lovin' neighbor and friend - 

a kind, loving constant in my life in Manayunk. 

Dogs the world over will mourn her passing,

and so will I.  

 

~ Etta Groener ~ 

May she rest in Peace!     

Memorial Day in a Busy ER

The Holidays in a busy city ER
can be unpredictable -

exhausting or quiet,

funny or tragic

 - unpredictable.

Memorial Day is a day to celebrate heroes

who fought for "what is right"

and some days in a busy city ER you just don't see
alot of "what is right".

But just as the census was picking up

and the pace was quickening,

our wonderful Jonathan brought

 in a homemade cake to celebrate the day!

Love Him!!

It made my day!

Cinco De Mayo

6 years ago my beloved first dog Kenya died. 

At 12 years old perhaps it should have been expected but the goodbye was excruciatingly painful.  Deservedly, I mourned my dear sweet dog Kenya for days when my friend
(and a dear friend of Kenya's also)
called and suggested we head downtown to Artist's Row on Cherry Street

 for a juried exhibition of a mutual friend. 

 I rallied from my state of mourning.

We cocktailed with marqueritas and caught a train downtown. 

What a memorable night it was - good art, good food, good people. 

 As we snuck out for my friend to catch a smoke,

by the dumpster was a white plaster replica statue of Kenya.

We could hardly believe our found treasure.  

 My friend said, "You carried him up your steps.  We can carry him home."

And so we began our trek through Philly with a 7 foot long plaster statue of Angel Kenya. 

We laughed.  We cried. We literally stopped traffic and after a long journey home,

Angel Kenya came to rest in my back yard garden.

 Cinco De Mayo is now forever indelibly planted in my mind as

a joyous, loving holiday and a memorial to my dear sweet dog Kenya. 

Laughs and friends can get you through any heartache. 

Happy Cinco de Mayo to you!

Introducing the Class of 2012

With the support and suggestion of my sister, I was asked to photograph a grand old historical estate for the purpose of making fundraising notecards.  As I consider changing vocations from a 30+ year career in nursing to following a passion for photography, this opportunity could not have come at a better time.  Off I went to snap away at this magestic property.   This fantasy like property is now used to home orphaned children.  What an irony a property of such magesty for the most unadorned and forgotten.

Then with another upcoming event I was asked to make a calendar for fundraising purposes.  Now I could further practice and polish skills, define with editing a theme to the calendar, capture the grandness. 

 I jumped out of bed each day with the thought of doing what I love - the snapping, the editing, the organizing. 

When I thought the job couldn't get any better,
 I was asked to photograph the Class of 2012 who were soon to graduate
and head out in the world solo. 
All three of these requests were heaven sent,
But this request best defined why I love photography -  

A Yearbook for a Class of 5!

They dressed up in their finest.

They hammed it up. 

They laughed and joked. 

One said, "it was dumb", 

(but I don't think he really meant it) 

They enjoyed being made a fuss over.

Without suggestion, as they sat at the piano for the class shot,

hands were rested on shoulders and they spontaneously huddled in a group,

a family of sorts.

And in the end, a yearbook was made -

 elegant and bound in leather -  

A yearbook that this amazing group of strong, brave, young graduates well deserve -

A keepsake for the hardships, the travails, the joys of adolescence.

Ladies and Gentlemen -

The Class of 2012

Emma Lily Violet Ryan

Sad Goodbyes and New Beginnings...
Despite cancer  and treatments and fear of loss and endless appointments and issues to be addressed - Eileen Ryan survived her mother's diagnosis and treatment of aggressive terminal cancer to deliver a beautiful baby girl - Emma Lily Violet - and as if the Gods conferred - her mother, although failing rapidly and time running out - with Eileen's "Project Grandmom on Wheels"  and the help of medical emergency personel and an ambulance and Irish relatives bedecking and grooming her - Grandma came to meet her grandbabe.  She came to the room and held little Emma and kissed her on the cheek. Not a dry eye in the place.  Eileen made memories for a lifetime and gave her babe some history.  What a wonderful birthing of a baby it was.  

"Emma Lily Violet, born at 12:12 pm, 4/16/12...8lbs 6oz...beautiful and healthy...and met her grandmother this afternoon."

Eileen Freda Ryan passed away at 6pm 4/18/12 - 30 years to the day and time of her beloved husband Thomas.

The Circle of Life  

    Happy Birthday Beautiful Emma!!