Photos And Poetry / Virginia Is For Families
Sep 02
Last time we were down at the beach I took some photos of Grommet Park and the area around 5th Street at Virginia Beach.
Well now Virginia Beach is preparing for a visit from Hurricane Earl. Here’s the report. They are building thirteen foot sand walls that will protect (hopefully) the stage that now sits on the beach in preparation for Labor Day festivities.
Aug 31
*
*
*
*
Aug 31
*
*
*
Aug 29
Your blogging buddy had a little adventure this weekend as he headed up to Washington D.C. to photograph some of the festivities reported in the news. I’m getting away from being a political person these days as I attempt to establish some sort of artistic identity. So the speeches didn’t really interest me very much. It was more of a visual feast for the camera and an opportunity to get some exercise.
My first opportunity to exercise came soon after arrival at Union Station when I asked a cab driver for a ride and he told me he wasn’t going to the Lincoln Memorial on this rather hot and humid day. Too much traffic for his sensibilities. Of course when I got there (finally) the traffic seemed fine and normal for DC.
I’m still trying to figure out why he didn’t want to drive over there because, as I said, I’m an artist now and don’t like to think about politics much. So I started walking towards my destination along with a few others who had taken the train. For awhile I felt pretty good. I took a a few photos along the way. This was good exercise. And I have difficulty being around large crowds so I felt good about challenging myself on this fine day to be around a great multitude of my fellow Americans.
But as I got nearer to my destination various body parts began to creak and groan. Fortunately I had invested in a large bottle of water at the train station and was able to stop under a tree here and there to rest for several minutes. Someone said it was cooler to walk on the grass and so I moved away from the beaten path. Then I discovering a tree covered in some sort of metal. I photographed it because nobody would believe it otherwise and determined that whoever had done this to the poor tree was not hiding in the bushes waiting for a guy with a camera hobbling down the path. And I hurried away.
About an hour after beginning this jaunt I began to see large crowds. Here someone had put up an interesting sign for all to see on their way to the Lincoln Memorial. Once again I took a photo. Someone was making a negative statement about the rally.
There was also a recording of some gospel music coming from large speakers surrounding a photo of Martin Luther King. It sounded nice but it conflicted somehow with the sign.
So I kept going as in the distance the magnificent Washington Monument towered over crowds of people. By this time I was really sweating and feeling a lot of physical discomfort so I decided to stop under the great stone edifice and rest for awhile. I pointed my camera straight up in the air and took a photo of it. I watched the people as they walked around the area. Everyone seemed to be in pretty good shape. There was one guy who was yelling loudly at everyone about Jesus but in general he was ignored as I prayed he would go away. And, in a few moments, my prayer was answered as he wandered down the hill. Thank you Jesus.
People were pouring in and the view was pretty amazing. As I looked down the hill and towards the reflecting pool I was surprised to see just how many people had shown up . Many of them were just sitting peacefully and listening to the speakers. Many others were walking around the packed crowds trying to get a closer view. But there was no way this was going to happen. So there was a line of people going in and another one coming out. My discomfort around crowds was starting to surface at this point and I retreated once more to Washington’s Monument after taking a few shots. Then I found a cab driver and headed back. The windows were open and the wind rushing in became my favorite part of the day as we flew down the streets.
Later, on the train ride back to Richmond, I curled up with Robin Easton’s new book Naked In Eden and read about a world entirely different from the one I had just visited. There were fewer travelers and plenty of room as I stretched out a bit and put the book down after awhile. I watched the sun blink through the window on my legs and suddenly felt a great calm as I closed my eyes and meditated. The gentle rocking motion of the train as it ran sixty miles an hour down the track was pleasant. And I was happy because I hadn’t decided to stay home and avoid the challenges of the trip.
I realized that the rally had only rather briefly impinged on my consciousness and it was the trees that I had enjoyed most. Along with the ducks and the glistening pools of water. The wind and the fields of grass contrasted favorably with the large buildings and vast monuments.
Thankfully all these things are here and within walking distance from my bedroom window. I should appreciate them more.
