Photographing 2021

February 05, 2021

Day 36

February 5, 2021

Happy Birthday Jamie Gramkow

I met Jamie in the lunch line in 6th grade. Actually, its possible we met before then, but we started getting close at that point. 6th grade was moved to the Junior High School and away from the safety of Comstock School. I was very self conscious in the lunch line. The decisions I would make in the next 3 minutes might make or break my popularity for the rest of my life.

There were 3 or 4 of us who became close friends quickly probably because we shared that awkward yuckiness. We were pretty inseparable until I went away to school in 1970 and Jamie moved with another of our closest friends to Texas. But from 1964 to 1970 we discovered the world together and wrestled with love and friendship side by side.

We grew up in very different households. She had 2 (much older)siblings, they all grew up Catholic and her Dad had the most amazing fish tanks. He took us for long rides in his Barracuda and we always felt safe.

I grew up the middle of seven children where our spiritual lives were a derivative of music and art. We had cats and dogs and we were spread out all over the place. I don't think my Dad created too much of a sense of safety, although my Mom certainly created a place where truth could be told.

But Jamie and I sang and walked many miles together in Wilton in search of truth and suede jackets. After a very long separation, we have kept in touch and been mutual low key support for each other. There's something about having shared those adolescent years that is bonding. So Happy Birthday, old friend. Hope it was fun.

I had a much shorter ride today and I shot half of it in black and white. It started in town where the ice sculptures were being made. It was warm and they were melting very quickly. I hope the cold air tonight freezes them up so that they are still viewable tomorrow.

I'm not sure how long it took the skies to clear up today, but even at sunset there were a lot of clouds. The sun would shine on single spots, blocked off casting huge shadows over many of the fields, but pouring onto one focused place a golden light.

I am amazed to think that the heron will return within the next 8 weeks. It's shocking. I can't wait, but meanwhile, I need to finish my slideshow and print the 20 photos I've chosen for the show.

Doesn't she look like velvet? It seemed to be a good day for the farm animals, they were all out at every farm I drove by. The horses aren't in the wide pastures, they are closer to home, but they were watching me.