Comings&Goings

   Lake Street Dive

Several weeks ago Amy and I had the good fortune of journeying into NYC to enjoy a Lake Street Dive concert, tickets courtesy of Abby, at the Beacon theater on the upper west side.  For whatever reason, Amy and I often talk about going to concerts and then we don’t. Lake Street Dive’s performance, especially lead singer Rachel Price’s vocals, energized the audience and inspired us to keep an eye on local music options.  Sitting in the second to last row of the balcony, we also could not help laughing throughout as we listened to the ongoing and heartfelt narrative of a woman, in the very last row behind us, exclaiming declaratively “Oh, my God. Oh, myy God. Rachel’s voice is just so transcendent.  Oh, my God.”  For the band’s encore, they performed an electrifying rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.

While on the topic of music, I continue to believe that the think tank behind the emergence of Pandora as a music source had people like me in mind.  I have always liked and enjoyed music and probably followed Southern rock more than any other genre growing up, but rarely did I take the time to investigate seriously and follow many bands or purchase L.P.’s like many of my friends did.  With the advent of Pandora, of course, that has all changed as I settle into the genre of Florence & The Machine, Adele or Miner and stay current in my listening. Recently, I have taken to the magnetic voice of Maggie Rogers, having watched her perform on SNL.  She seems like a promising up and comer to me.

   Time for Museums

With some time on our hands the morning following the concert, we ventured to El Museo Del Barrio on the upper east side to view several photography exhibits.  One in particular entitled “Down These Mean Streets” featured urban photographers focusing on community and place during the 60’s and 70’s. Even in the starkness of some crumbling neighborhood environs, these photos revealed the power of community in the various portraits.

Along the way, I also learned that a lenticular image, shifts as the viewer moves his or her angle for viewing the image.  The photograph below is just one image, but I am standing at different angles.

As good fortune would have it, Amy and I learned that our tickets would gain us free admission to The Museum of the City of New York (a place that I had never even heard of), only one block away and featuring a number of provocative exhibits, including a series of stunning Stanley Kubrick photographs and a contemporary show illuminating the “Interior lives of Chinese New Yorkers.”  Both exhibits are excellent as was the short, must see movie that explores the historical landscapes of Manhattan, beginning with the arrival of the Dutch. Among other characteristics, the movie captures the very ethos of the city’s relentless energy and vitality.

 

 

Leadbetter’s Essentials

During the summer months and into the fall, I became a David Leadbetter convert and, in particular, have taken to studying his golf video series entitled “Leadbetter’s Essentials,” both to help me better coach the Westminster girls’ golf team and perhaps to stumble upon the secret for my own ongoing and elusive swing.  Leadbetter is known as one of the world’s preeminent golf instructors, having worked with the likes of Tiger, Rory, Phil and many others during his career. His “essentials” video series distills the golf swing into  6 short videos. For this viewer, his instruction has led me to a place where I  truly understand both the physics and the kinesthetic movements that form the foundation for an effective swing.  Putting all of that into practice, at least for this golfer, may be a different story.

A number of blog readers at this point may have rightly sped onward with their perusing for fear that I plan to analyze my swing strategy for each of the various clubs in my golf bag, but I will spare you that narrative until we next meet.  Instead, the concept of essentials has provoked me to think about how with time and experience we all thoughtfully and strategically develop and distill our own essentials for all that we do. Grilling essentials, career essentials, first aide essentials, travel essentials, communication essentials, beauty essentials, gardening essentials, relationship essentials, fitness essentials, writing essentials, auto essentials, counseling essentials, turkey essentials….you get the idea.  And imagine what would happen if we all pooled our own essentials and shared them with one another. Time + Experience = Essentials, a potentially inexhaustive guide for just about everything.

Abula vulpes

Strategically, I have not wanted to “overschedule” myself during this sabbatical year even though most days I feel that I am the most busy person around on sabbatical.  This flexibility approach recently yielded a last minute invitation to join a group of fisherman for 4 days of bonefishing in the Bahamas. Bonefishing Essentials?  It was a wonderful trip, replete with exciting fishing moments, entertaining banter and stories, and plenty of 50 something camaraderie. Two facets of the adventure which stand out include spending several days with Percy, a wizened and instructional guide who had fished the lovely Bahamian waters for over fifty years.  Similar to an effective teacher, he challenged us, taught us, criticized us, encouraged us, and ultimately stewarded us as fishing disciples in his watery home.

The other memory that stands out occurred one sunny and cloudless afternoon when alone I waded a sand flat and witnessed the amazing sights, sounds, and mysteries of an oceanic ecosystem.  Over the course of almost 3 hours and following a falling tide, I tracked bonefish who emerged from the mangroves and frantically searched for deeper waters while moving across the flats in water less than 2 feet, schooling up to form V patterns and creating their own current or “nervous” water.  Sometimes the fish traveled in smaller and more stealthy pods of two and three fish. The bonefish were often followed by slow, lazy moving Lemon Sharks who reminded me that nature’s ominous forces are never far behind. At one point, I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of splashing, gurgling water, chanting birds, and the steady rhythmic slap of the tide.  The coalescence of these sensory experiences was beautiful, other worldly, and calming.  Periodically, too the sounds of nature were pierced by the screeching of my reel.

According to Amy, Nick, Abby, and Will

Nick is really enjoying Scott Harrison’s Thirst:  A story of redemption, compassion, and a mission to bring clean water to the world.  Based upon his early reviews, I plan to add this book to my reading list.  Amy has shifted slightly towards and easy Thanksgiving read, and is “gobbling” up Lee Child’s Past Tense.  At the suggestion of a neighbor, I have just begun reading Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Russo’s first non-fiction book, entitled The Destiny Thief.  Already I am loving his style and the pace of his reflections.

Worth the Read, View, and Listen

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I am finding that podcasts focused on human interest stories are a nice way to compliment time in the car or in the fitness room.  The New York Time’s “Daily” is outstanding.  One podcast, “The Business of Internet Outrage” focused on a couple who started a business editing news articles to make the headlines more inflammatory.  The result:  Millions of people began reading them, and the writers made a handsome living.  Worth a listen.

Articles of interest

Stop Trying to Master One Skill

Swing Doctors? Top L.G.P.A. Players Prefer to Heal Themselves

How Plato Foresaw Facebook’s Folly

Frank Litsky:  A Times Sports Writer of Humor and Breadth

And Finally

I thought you might enjoy what confronted Will when he awakened on Tuesday morning, following his red eye flight from San Francisco.  Welcome to the wild kingdom of home.  A close friend also shared this short piece on being thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

Comings & Goings

   Two Tramps in Mud Time

I wanted to start off by expressing my appreciation for those readers among you who have provided me with constructive blog feedback and other thoughtful insights.  Even comments such as “Your blog is way too long and needs a good editor,” or “Who really wants to know what you are reading” are taken to heart as I refine my blogging skills, a work in progress to be sure.  And everyone should know that the identities of those individuals providing feedback will always be kept in the strictest of confidence, even if they are family members.

When I finally found time to stack the cord wood in our driveway, as referenced in my last posting, I was reminded of Robert Frost’s poem, Two Tramps in Mud Time, which reflects the narrator’s pleasure for the physical escape and the kinesthetic joy of splitting wood:

Good blocks of oak it was I split,
As large around as the chopping block;
And every piece I squarely hit
Fell splinterless as a cloven rock.
The blows that a life of self-control
Spares to strike for the common good,
That day, giving a loose my soul,
I spent on the unimportant wood.

Later in the poem, the narrator – presumably Frost – finds even greater focus and pleasure when two loggers emerge from the woods, looking for “splitting” work and potentially compromising the narrator’s moment of bliss.  Frost, however, remains unyielding, carrying on his labor of love and expressing,

The time when most I loved my task
The two must make me love it more
By coming with what they came to ask.
You’d think I never had felt before
The weight of an ax-head poised aloft,
The grip of earth on outspread feet,
The life of muscles rocking soft
And smooth and moist in vernal heat.

For me, I no longer feel the weight of the “ax-head poised aloft” nor “muscles rocking smooth in vernal heat,” and I remain unsure what led to the loss of a once familiar and annual rite.  I now have a great wood guy whom I pay to cut, split, and deliver our wood, and I merely stack it.  But I still take pride in my neat, symmetric wood rows and strong, strategic buttressing ends, my thoughts oddly drifting to the unfolding World Series drama just as much a part of October as the stacking of wood.

   Depending on the kindness of strangers

Several weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, while in the middle of nowhere Maine, I began to experience car trouble with our 2007 Saab wagon with warning lights violently blinking, the engine sputtering, and a loss of meaningful forward momentum.  I limped slowly along the side of the road, with yellow flashers properly deployed. I edged into a nondescript “mom and pop” gas station and went inside thinking that maybe dry gas would solve my problems (that’s the extent of my mechanical knowledge).  I spoke with a nice woman at the register who, like me, didn’t know much beyond dry gas. However, another man who was waiting to pay for his coffee overheard my moaning car woes and kindly jumped into the conversation:

“It sounds like you got car troubles.  What are you driving?”

“It’s a 2007 Saab wagon that my wife wishes we would sell.”

“Well, Perry Smith, one of the best Saab mechanics in the state is only a couple of miles away, and I think he is open on Saturday mornings.”

I thought to myself, how is it possible that I am truly in the middle of nowhere and the top Saab mechanic in the state is within spitting distance.  True serendipity.  I thanked the  helpful man, took a right, went left, another right, found an understated roadside sign, and crawled up a narrow driveway towards a small garage surrounded by ancient Saab carcasses.  I locked eyes with a man standing out in front, nursing a cup of coffee and discouraging his two barking dogs.  Right out of central casting, I thought. Forty Five minutes and two cups of coffee later, Perry had diagnosed the problem, retrieved a new fuel injector “system,” which he unbelievably had in stock, and I was on my way with new hope for the ride home and a new friend in Perry.

I highlight this brief encounter because we all depend upon strangers at various points and even though Blanche Dubois in Tennessee Williams’ A StreetCar Named Desire uttered her famous “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers,” albeit in a very different context, this expectation is true. And beyond the strangers in our lives, I am reminded of the many different people who are vital in helping you and me:  the wood guy, the butcher, the dentist, the mechanic, the stylist, the travel agent, the teacher, the physical therapist, the lawyer, the counselor, the hardware store guy… the list goes on. It seems to me that over time many of us have enjoyed the  good fortune of developing human intersections, part of an economy of goodwill, service, help and kindness that lead to key relationships upon which we all come to rely.

   Seward Johnson

As denizens of the Farmington Valley and Simsbury already know, our town has enjoyed since last May the remarkable art installation of Seward Johnson’s life-size “hyper-realistic” bronze sculptures “Celebrating the Familiar.”  While initial student reaction last spring ranged from describing the statues as “creepy,” “sketchy,” and “weird,” I have grown fond of them and their sentinel-like, omniscient presence wherever one goes in and around town. Consequently, I treated myself to a “craft” afternoon, grabbed my camera and some lenses and went in pursuit of a few photos.  Instead of photographing the full bronzes (there are 32 statues), I played around with color, depth of field, and focused on the expressive nature of diverse hands at work and at play. With apologies for the oddly truncated nature of this perspective.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Geordie

By means of a follow-up to past thoughts about people pursuing itinerant career paths, I had a chance to spend the weekend on Nantucket Island with a handful of friends.  Among those friends was Geordie Beldock, an impressive young man who, at this point in his life, is pursuing the journey of a fishing guide. Geordie just spent 4 months guiding in Alaska and potentially has plans to return to Chile this winter, where he guided last year. Geordie also is now entertaining thoughts of starting his own outfitter business.  The stories of his adventures instilled in me the desire to travel to both destinations.

Although heavy rains and high winds thwarted our efforts by boat to pluck a few False Albacore from the Atlantic Ocean, we enjoyed a fun adventure to a desolate Great Point at the eastern end of the island.  The albies remained elusive even there, but our group witnessed an amazing, natural light show, reflecting that we are well into the throes of autumn with winter lurking nearby.

 

According to Amy, Nick, Abby, and Will

Nick shared with me a provocative article about professional burnout in medicine and strategies for combating this perilous outcome.  While the piece is specific to the medical profession, it seems to me that its advice has application to everyone’s careers.  Among other references, Siddhartha Mukherjee – the author – highlights Victor Frankel’s seminal book, Man’s Search for Meaning, which focuses on the belief that one’s sense of true purpose is the most important element for developing resiliency.  Mukherjee goes even further and posits the notion that purpose, mastery, and autonomy – taken together – are a powerful force against burnout.  If you read nothing else in this blog, this is the article; Mukherjee is a really good writer too.

I also loved an NPR interview that Amy passed along to me, highlighting hall of fame basketball player Bob Cousy and his regrets for not having done more to support his teammate Bill Russell, navigating the racist threads in the sport and within our country during the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Cousy is ninety years old.

Worth the Read, Worth a View

I just concluded, The Day the World Came to Town, a wonderful story which truly reflects the very best qualities of people.  The book shines upon the town of Gander, NewFoundland when the community rallied around 38 jumbo jets which were forced to make emergency landings after the U.S. closed its airspace during the 9/11 attacks.  The recently produced Broadway show, Come From Away, is based upon this story.  Several close friends have raved about the show.

I also am intrigued by Alex Honnold, the young climbing prodigy who is featured in the new documentary Free Solo.  I was first introduced to his talents last year when one of the students in my spring senior elective, Literature on the Edge, did a class presentation on Alex, his climbing skills, and his approach to managing fear when perched, without protection, thousands of feet up above the ground.  I have no doubt that this movie will be about much more than climbing.

   Articles of  interest:

The Secret Lives of Central Bankers

How Sears Helped Oppose Jim Crow

Researchers Explore a Cancer Paradox

A Harvest That Requires Flooding, Floating, and Pumping

Scrabbles World Champion

Who Says Allie Kieffer Isn’t Thin Enough To Run Marathons?

Baseball has a Rorschach Test:  The Checked Swing

And Finally

While I was speeding along the mass pike following yet another car issue that required me to call and to enlist the help of AAA, probably the best most helpful company in the universe, I found myself behind a UHAUL truck towing a trailer with a vintage yellow and white Chevy surfer van (circa. 1980) with, of course, California plates.  As I neared the trailer, its sole bumper sticker caught my eye:  Humankind, Be Both.

Enjoy the anticipation of Thanksgiving ahead.

sws

 

 

 

Comings and Goings

   The Unhurried Life

I appreciated hearing from my good friend Gregg Beldock following my last post when he wrote,

“I have searched for a word that articulates an unhurried life, an unhurried lifestyle. The “word” is unhurried life.”

“It’s apparent that life is more colorful, more satisfying, more fulfilling, more exciting when you learn to live it more unhurried.”

While I am still at beginning of the sabbatical, Gregg’s reflections, reminiscent of something Forest Gump may have iterated, resonates with me because yes, my experience is moving in slow motion, and I have unhurried time on my hands.  I am reminded of speaking to students about slowing down periodically to create space for reflection, a novel pastime for teenagers and for many of us, as we all choose and are culturally forced to move throughout our lives at breakneck speeds.   I am still following Westminster faculty and community emails, and the sheer volume of daily communiques reflect a new normal and serve as a proxy, I think, for the intensity and the pace of all lives in 2018.

   The Farnsworth Museum

I forgot to mention that while studying photography in Maine several weeks ago, I had a chance to visit the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland which features many pieces reflecting beautiful American art.  I recall last year teaching some of Rennie Mcquilkin’s poems that, in particular, highlighted several of Andrew Wyeth’s more notable paintings. Interestingly, I learned that three generations of Wyeths enjoyed noteworthy acclaim for their respective paintings.

I also lucked out at seeing a temporary exhibit of Ai Weiwei, the Chinese contemporary artist and activist.  His exhibition of gold sculptures, reflecting a “circle of animals/ Zodiak heads,” was stunning and beautiful. At some point I would enjoy learning more about how Ai Weiwei’s work manifests his view on Chinese authority and the detrimental effects of globalization.  Political commentary aside, Weiwei’s gold heads demonstrated his amazing artistry and craft.

   Hatteras

Certainly not as cultural as the Farnsworth but no less entertaining, Nick, Will, and I ventured to Hatteras for Columbus Weekend to manage our testosterone and advance our kiting skills.  We met in Norfolk on Friday (Will had taken the red eye from SF on Thursday night so that he could work remotely, and Nick landed from Chicago at 9:30pm).  The 2.5 hour drive to Waves, NC put us at our destination just before midnight and after providing the three of us with time to solve the problems of the world and to ponder the assumptions of Occam’s Razor.  Although we waited patiently on Saturday, clinging to even the slightest wisp of wind, it was not until Sunday when the wind gods shifted in our direction and provided conditions for kite “shredding.”

Nick and Will previously “self taught” themselves over the last two years in San Francisco, so once again I found myself pushing hard just to be a part of the team.  Our instructors, Georgus and Eric, from Greece and Florida respectively, were outstanding and guided us beautifully along the kiting progression curve.

With plenty of time for conversation (remember we were watching and waiting for the wind a lot), I was struck by how both instructors – married and with college degrees, fluent in several languages – were choosing more unconventional and less secure lifestyles because of their love of kiting and the opportunity to travel.  Given my own background, too often, I know that I become very myopic about our Westminster students pursuing “traditional” careers, and I forget that many up and comers are taking certain risks to pursue what they truly love, acting as entrepreneurs of a sort to create  financially viable and satisfying careers. Something to consider to be sure. By the by, when Eric is not teaching at Real in Hatteras, he is in Key West instructing at Upwindkiteboarding.

I have included a few kiting videos for your entertainment and possible amusement:

Nick and Will in tandem

Will catching “big” air

A little shaky but in the game

According to Amy, Nick, Abby, and Will

I wanted to include some varied content from the “Family” as we – like so many other families – are continuously sharing articles, videos, humor, and podcasts which may, in effect, be one of the ways to slow down the momentum of a day or serve as a healthy mode of procrastination.

Nick listens to lots of podcasts, usually during his morning and evening commute, and really enjoys Patrick O’Shaugnessy:  http://investorfieldguide.com/trailmagic/

Amy recently highlighted an NPR piece, Weaponization of social media and its real world consequences,  and found it fascinating.  And, as a librarian, Amy wanted to put a plug in for Michael Lewis’ new book, The Fifth Risk. In my opinion, Lewis is an extraordinary writer who draws readers quickly into the quagmire of his eclectic literary investigations.

Also of note is Amy’s curiosity for  Steven Pinker’s The Better Angels of our nature/ why violence has declined, a book that Bill Gates describes as one of the most inspiring that he has ever read.

Worth the Read/ Worth a View

Recently, I heard an interview with Steve Carell, best known for his run with The Office, and Timothee Cahlamet who both perform in the recently released movie, Beautiful Boy, focusing on the very real challenges of addiction and family.  While I don’t anticipate that this will be a feel good movie, I also realize that the current opioid crisis will sadly and inevitably intersect with the lives of just about everyone.  The above link provides both a review and the movie trailer.

Articles of interest include:

O.C.D., My Exhausting Best Friend

This Canadian Hockey Star Doubles as a Law Enforcer

How Feminist Dystopian Fiction is Channeling Women’s Anger and Anxiety

Your Dog May Be Smart, but She’s Not Exceptional (a must read for dog lovers)

The Jocks Will Inherit the Earth (a provocative article about social power in school and careers later in life)

Am I a Lawn Mower Parent

The Science behind a Frog’s Leap  (short and amusing)

And Finally

With many of you involved in youth athletics, you may have missed the peewee football coach’s brawl that once again sheds light upon the ongoing challenges of youth sports.  I am reminded of Tom Earl’s cautionary warning when we coached hockey together.  He said something to the effect that, following a heated athletic contest, “Nothing good usually comes from saying anything  during the handshake with the opposing coach.”  Some wisdom and truth there, to be sure.

Speaking of hockey, if there is only one link that you explore on this blog, this is the one.  Thanks to Francois Morin for sharing the story of hockey pioneers in Kenya, footage that will surely put a smile on your face while eliciting a host of other emotions.

Lastly, Amy and I have enjoyed several nice, albeit long hikes this fall, first on Mount Greylock near Williamstown and last weekend along the southeastern ridge of Stratton Mountain in Vermont, a seven mile round trip journey with perfect temperatures on a quintessential foliage afternoon.  In both cases we interacted at the peak with engaging groups of college students, enjoying wilderness overnights and outdoor rigor.  Gotta love college outing clubs.  We also climbed the fire tower and witnessed striking vistas.

We built our first fire of the season, another rite of autumn, and I look forward to stacking a cord of wood, which currently sits in our driveway (many years ago I actually cut and split our wood), an annual ritual that oddly provides me with great joy and satisfaction.

sws

Comings & Goings

It hasn’t taken me long to become accustomed to the rhythms of my day as Amy rushes about in the a.m. to ready herself for school, and I pour another cup of coffee in anticipation of some morning reading.  Truth be told, this new pattern felt pretty strange during the opening days of school, but I have, not surprisingly, added some structure to what has become a wonderfully liberating outlook on the days and weeks ahead.  Amy too has adjusted, I think, and only raises her eyebrows every now and then.

Being a Student Again

Recently, I concluded a weeks long course at Maine Media in Rockport, ME where I had an opportunity to explore a workshop focusing on the “Process of Portraits.”  Like most students scanning their classmates in a first meeting, I looked around the classroom and quickly realized that within our group of 6 students, I was part of the rearguard in photographic experience and technical proficiency.  Recalling one of my former graduate school success strategies, I quickly attached myself to Bill, a retired engineer and astrophysicist, who kindly and quietly provided technical guidance throughout the week.

Starting with Michael Wilson our engaging and insightful professor who appeared to me to be right out of central casting for a freelance photographer (see photo below), I knew the week was going to be a good one. His abstract random approach to the curriculum effectively impacted me and provided plenty to ponder as I worked to understand, explore and improve my photography skill set.  The group of students were outstanding in all respects, and we developed a kind of an esprit de portrait together.

I encourage you to take a look at Michael’s website and have no doubt that you will recognize the likes of Lyle Lovett, Waylon Jennings, John Hiatt, EmmaLou Harris, and others he had the opportunity of photographing over the years when he worked with a number of record labels.  Personally, I find his photos stunning and provocative, especially as he eschews flash photograph and prefers to seek out “available” light for his photos.

In a week that focused more on the portrait aesthetic and less on the technical (but remember that I had Bill helping me with that) we studied a number of famous portrait photographers including Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Gary Winogrand, to name a few.  Our schedule consisted of classroom time learning principles for portrait photography, spending afternoons “on location” shooting models, and becoming more proficient with techniques for light, setting, and subject. Back in the classroom, the group critiqued what we had each produced, a serious yet fun part of the curriculum that helped me advance my understanding of effective portraits and the nomenclature surrounding the medium.

Perhaps the exercise that was most challenging and enjoyable occurred when our class set up a white screen backdrop in the parking lot of Renny’s, a Maine convenience store, and asked strangers whether they might allow us to take a few quick photos.  Below, are a few from this experience along with a some others I shot elsewhere during week.  As my classmates and I found, there were more than a few shining moments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Articles of Interest

One of the true sabbatical pleasures I am finding is having the time to read articles that I might not otherwise have, given the fast pace we all move with our lives.  The two pieces from the Times focusing on learning to love classical music and listening to the sounds of the world (a truly amazing cacophony of sounds) were particularly noteworthy and, while I am not formally trained in classical music or world sounds, I enjoyed listening to both.  Come to think of it, I am not formally trained in lots of things but with time on my hands, I remain curious and interested in all that surrounds us.

A piece focusing on Sally and Bennett Shaywitz life’s work in decoding dyslexia and advocating for educational change was inspiring in many ways.  I also liked reading about the young visionary who has created an enormous sea boom to gather up plastic in the ocean, an invention that may end up being revolutionary for the environment.

I was struck too by a recent article focusing on beer (which I like) and Brett Kavanaugh, and what the Supreme Court nominee’s many references to that beverage during his hearing might have been signaling.  And if you missed SNL’s lampooning of the hearing, I encourage you to take a look.

Worth A Read

If you are looking for a powerful, rich, and inspiring memoir, you need to go no further than Tara Westover’s recent book, Educated.  Her raw and compelling voice throughout a narrative about faith, family obligation, self-creation, knowledge, and the power of one’s past over the future should advance this story to the top of your book pile.  Her style and syntax are refreshingly natural, impactful, and lovely.  I am already looking forward to teaching her memoir in one of my classes next year.  Next up for me, at the suggestion of my favorite librarian, will be The Day The World Came to Town by Jim Defede.

And Finally

I took a quick look at the trailer for the new production of King Lear and, as with almost everything that Anthony Hopkins stars in, this movie is a must see for those who love the actor and Shakespeare.  I am imagining and hoping that we might see resonances of Hannibal Lecter in Hopkin’s portrayal.

I will inevitably have a camera in hand throughout the year ahead, so please be sure that you are looking your best when I next encounter you.

sws

By returning to the Greek origin (sabbatikos) for the word sabbatical, signaling a “ceasing of work” for study and travel, I invite you to peruse adventuresabbatikos from time to time as I share exposures from the year ahead. It is my hope to include observations, reflections, photographs, links to articles, videos, book titles, musings and more that may be of interest to you. I welcome any and all followers as well as ongoing feedback from you. I guess that there is no time like the present to get the adventuresabbatikos blog underway, so here goes.

No matter what lens we look through, this summer was one of great sadness with the tragic losses of two close friends, Lindsay Crosby and Cindy Swank, two amazingly talented, beautiful, and good people.  While I, like so many others, continue to move forward with living, both women are never far from my thoughts, and I reflect often upon them and their far too short lives.  I know that all of us stand behind Evan, Mark, and their wonderful families.

In early August I had an opportunity to join the Pan Mass Crus11tour as a rider to help raise funding for glioblastoma, the type of cancer that took Davey Hovey’s own life a little over a year ago.  From the very beginning of the two day 192 mile event, I was inspired to a part of a community of 6,500 riders, 4,000 volunteers, and countless supporters who lined the roads from Sturbridge to Provincetown, shouting encouragement, cheering the riders, and thanking everyone for his or her efforts to support the fight against cancer.  The Crush11tour team to date has raised over $500,000 and the total Pan Mass effort hopes to exceed 52 million for research.  A pretty incredible event that reminded me of the goodwill of so many.

As for summer reading, my three most recent books include Wallace Stegner’s classic, Crossing to Safety, David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, and Sheelah Kolhatkar’s, Black Edge: Inside Information, Dirty Money, and the Quest to Bring Down the Most Wanted Man on Wall Street, all compelling reads in their own way.  Stylistically, Crossing to Safety (one of Amy’s favorite books 40 years ago) was both beautifully written and insightful as the narrative explored the complicated nature of friendships and marriages over many years. I just picked up Tara Westover’s Educated, a memoir some of my colleagues have already read and enjoyed.

I thought too I would include a couple of recent articles of interest.  The first focuses on the iconoclast Bryson de Chambeau who is quietly making a name for himself during the final couple of PGA tournaments of the season.  The second, The Last Butterfly, reminds us of childhood and nature, and the last highlights the relationship a young woman had with J.D. Salinger many years ago.

Finally, next week I head off to Maine Media for a week long photography course focusing on portrait photography.  While I have had very little formal photography training, I have always found a camera in my hands, especially during my years at Westminster. In addition to Maine Media, I anticipate taking an online course with Annie Leibovitz, one of the great American portrait photographers.

More later..