The recent snowfall painted a serene backdrop for my lengthy road trip to offer a final goodbye to someone that I’ve known most of my adult life. It seems I’ve lost count, but I know that I’ve attended far more memorial services in the past few years than I have in my entire lifetime.
Read Morememories
It's Christmastime /
That time of the year is here again. And with it, I look forward to seeing those I love in the next week. I'm counting on those days being filled with plenty of soul filling goodness: puppy kisses and wagging tails, teary eyed laughter, reading, studying, loads of fab music backed by a tad more groovy tunes, and a dinner and movie date (heck.... maybe even two). It's Christmastime.
Read MoreCasual Ordinary /
Time never pauses.
Moments become years and then quickly pass with only a blink. Recently I attended the memorial service for someone who walked through my life and left a mark. It was a good mark, one of love, one of goodness, one of spirit, and one that was always full of human originality.
Read MoreA Morning of Levels /
I sipped coffee by the lake this morning just to process this day infamously and always to be known as 9/11. Sitting in the Blue Ridge sunshine, I remembered watching the events of that morning. It remains a day of horrors as the world changed and unfolded minute by minute. Despite the ugliness of the day, the heroes were the winners - the coworkers, the bystanders, the emergency response personnel, the nurses, the single parents, the teachers, the rich, the poor, the hurting, and the Average Joe.
Read MoreValued Upbringing /
Pouring a fresh cup of coffee, I thought about my morning discoveries. None of them really came as a surprise. I’ve always been respectful, protective, and frugal with my belongings. I’m certain that my Daddy had something to do with that. He was a tinkerer. Not for the hobby of it, but as a means to keep things working. We were a working class family, which doesn’t mean we didn’t have nice things. We just didn’t have an abundance of them. What we had, we took care of because disposable was not in our vocabulary.
Read Morejust a man /
Incognito ©2013 Gary Garbett
I've been incredibly fortunate to be lots of things in my life. Unquestionably, one of those things I'm most proud of was the younger version of myself as a youthful, dedicated, full on, wrap my world around it Dad. In my children’s bright young eyes, they made me feel like I was their superhero. In reality however, I was just a man, doing my best, with what I had at being Daddy.
With the kids well into their young adult lives now, those days have long passed. I still remember them though, even if I didn't get the chance to wear a cool cape or fancy boots. Those years were the most inspiring, creative, and loving times of my life. Super powers aren't just for comic book heroes.
Live life. It gives far more back when you do.
Liner Notes: A big thank you to my good friend Matt for tripping the shutter on this image.
secondhand light /
After a well needed and successful breather from classes over the past month, today is the beginning of my Spring semester and my yearlong sprint towards a December graduation. Aside from the annual reruns of holiday soundtracks, television programs, mountains of sugar coma sparkly treats, and family fruitcake, I was happy to occasionally locate some quality time for my own thoughts during the academic break.
Usually with a coffee mug at my side, I spent plenty of hours during the holidays with my varied and extremely eclectic film and instant camera collection. Dating as far back as the 1930s, each of them are secondhand, left behinds, or strays and all beautiful works of art in themselves. All have their own distinct character and personality and I can only imagine the stories, celebrations, and places they've each seen. Our eclecticism seems to parallel one another perfectly, promising an exciting journey as I search for light through their viewfinders this semester.
Together, we'll have a story to tell. No fruitcake required.
Returned Goodness /
Zero’s Ride Home
I'm not usually one that reads too terribly much into patterns or numbers. Common human nature though seems to look for signs, especially when turning over a New Year. Yesterday was a prime example. I found two like new Polaroid cameras at two different thrift stores on day two of this New Year. It was clearly a sign, so I was left with no other option than to add them to my collection.
Today, I adopted a new member into our family. The two of us met several months ago while I was hanging an art exhibition. Little did I know on that hot summer day in August that he and I would be taking a car ride together on January 3. As I write this, he and our other two dogs (that makes three on day three of January) are sitting in my office together, getting acquainted, and chatting about our new family.
New Years always have a tendency to offer us fresh beginnings. Both are incredibly healthy and provide a way to look forward while at the same time allowing us the opportunity to recharge from our pasts. On January 1, the idea of adding a few more cameras or another love to our family by the end of the week was the furthest thing from my mind. Things just happen some times. Out of the blue. I’ve always believed in the idea of making good of those things around you. In return, they'll find a genuine way to return that goodness back to you.
Looking Back One Year Later | January 3, 2014
The photo above was taken just minutes after Zero and I were headed home for the very first time. I think he was a little unsure of all of this new stuff. It was a big day for him... a new home; a full vet exam with poking, prodding and shots; a new family with other dogs and cats; a new bed with new toys; and a huge ginormous yard in the country for running and playing. He fit right in and became part of our family immediately.
There hasn't been a day over the past year when I haven't laughed out loud countless times because of his goodness and love for life. He was my coach and cheerleader during the past year of my middle aged graduate school thesis writing. He'd often lay in my home study with his belly to the sky and take a nap as I typed and edited and typed some more. And then unexpectedly, he'd surprise me with a big eyed stare, a paw on my lap, and a soggy toy. I needed those breaks and he knew it.
This little guy is such a joy to my world. I can tell the feeling is mutual for him as well. He is one happy boy. Happy Unbirthday to my best, best Buddy. I love this guy.