As my few fans may have noticed, I’ve posted a few more pics lately. There’s a few reasons for that. First, I said early on I wanted to post black and white pics and I really haven’t followed through on it. Second, I got a new phone. After existing in the Android universe for three years, I finally returned to Apple. The change brought with it a better camera than my previous phone and no excuse not to take pictures. The third reason is a little more complicated and deserves its own bullet point.
Ms. Boss recently asked us to accompany her to the local art museum for her recent birthday. As I believe I mentioned previously, she was a fine art major in college and still enjoys exercising that part of her mind on a regular basis. This particular visit included a guided meditation session on an art installation that used light shining through cutouts to display different patterns on the wall. The high point of the session for me was an instruction by the leader to spend a few minutes outside my comfort zone in a meditative state. When it comes to groups, I like to float on the periphery, to hang back, to occupy the back rows of the room, so to speak. Following instructions, I got right up close to the artwork with my nose one inch from the art piece shining the patterns. I was rewarded with an immersive experience. The artwork existed all around me, enveloped me, and seared an image in my brain I won’t soon forget. The lesson I learned that day was to get close to those things around me and truly notice them. What I’m trying to do is share that with you, dear reader, through photography. I take black and white photos of patterns I see around me and try to immerse us – you and I – in them.
I’ve said this for years, but as each year goes by the meaning behind the words changes and becomes even deeper. Being married is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. This year, I’m trying to be more immersed in my marriage. It’s difficult to block everything else out and focus on that one thing. I fail miserably time and time again, but every once in awhile I get it right – and am handsomely rewarded for it.
Its a rainy October Sunday as I write this from the front porch of my house. What started as sprinkles grew into a soaking, steady rain. Ms. Boss is seated to my right working hard to get caught up with last week’s work before diving into next week. Before starting this post, I dehulled some of the black walnuts that have fallen in our yard with the hope of shelling them in a week or so. Together, we’ve worked, had a hot beverage or two, enjoyed the solitude and the sound of the falling rain. When she turned and told me she loved me out of the blue, I knew there was no place either of us would rather be.