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.

believing in believing

Paper Ornaments

A number of Christmases ago, finances were extremely difficult.

That particular year, the children and I made handmade ornaments with paper, crayons, white glue, glitter, sequins, and ribbon to decorate our truly meager tree. Hours later, we stepped back from the dusting of glitter on the floor to take a look at our Christmas tree. It was beautiful and I know that because of it, Santa was able to find us that year.

For twenty years, I've displayed that very same tree every year… along with all of it's memories and an occasional fluttering of stray glitter.

Yes, I believe.

Santa Came

Misfits

13 is lucky, y'all

Without creating an exhaustive list of spectacular days, loving people, fab experiences, life rich opportunities, or unforgettable moments, I'll just say that each of those from my path in 2012 certainly left a personal creative mark on my soul. I spend far more days with a camera or two at my side than not, if for no other reason than to document where I've been. Those days are important because they also share with me where I need to go. Over the past 365 days, I captured thousands and thousands of images. Most were ordinary places, regular people, and all perfectly real life.

Two years ago today I began this blog specifically as a one year commitment for daily photo postings. Doing so forced me to be creative and strengthened my skills with my tools, but far more important, it taught me to open my eyes.

As I turn the corner on the New Year, I'm committing myself once again to at least one photo-a-day posting. These posts will assist me as I prepare my Graduate School thesis concentrating on innovative and experimental processes in film, instant, and digital photographic mediums.

13 is a lucky, ya’ll. Follow along.

world saving in three days

Well into the chapters of my 50's, I welcomed the challenges that came with my continued life-learning path and enrollment into another Graduate program. Crossing those flashing broad yellow lines of Business and Engineering have certainly intrigued, and sometimes bewildered, my left brain's creative soul. I brought to our multi-disciplinary cohort however, those things that are inherently me. What else would I bring?

Turning the corner on December and now into the final days of my first full time semester in years, while also working full time, I'm spending plenty of hours listening to classical music while preparing for each of my final presentations. Without question, I'm also mentally preparing for that upcoming post semester block of "me" time. Before diving into those days of vinyl records, classic cinema, studios filled with cameras, easels, and restoring another 1975 Polaroid SX-70, I have a few tasks to complete first.

My world saving calendar will be extremely busy over the next 10 days. I'll be the guy resurrecting and saving a 140 plus year old brand with my $10 million marketing and advertising plan. Once that fire's put out, I'll spend the following day unraveling and correcting worldwide water filtration issues, while at the same time reversing global utrification concerns. Day three of my world saving agenda will commence after a nap of three or four hours. Then with my travel mug filled with a microwaved serving of day old coffee and a diagonally cut peanut butter sandwich, I’ll remedy aging at home problems while juggling a world class and masterful biomimicry solution, complete with hand crafted sock puppets and cardboard props.

Welcome Business and Engineering folk, you've now entered my world, one with an endless supply of dull blunt scissors, masking tape, and ripe imagination. Wipe your feet, buckle up, and keep all arms inside the car. You're now in the Creative Zone.

big hurricane and a little camera

A Sandy Olympus ©2012 Gary Garbett

Hurricane Sandy and a Camera: I've been looking for an #Olympus OM series camera for a while. This one is gorgeous. The package arrived today, five days after the auction closed. Everything, including a second lens and a flash was extremely well packaged and securely boxed. You never really know just what you may get from an online auction until the package actually arrives. I won the auction for this 1979 OM-2n on Sunday evening and paid for it immediately. In less than 24 hours from the time I submitted payment, Hurricane Sandy would make a devastating attack of the Northeast, pummeling New York and New Jersey.

Ben, the seller of the camera, lives in Staten Island, NY. After watching the fallout that Sandy left behind, my excitement for a camera was quickly replaced by an honest concern for a community and for Ben. I've read the stories, seen the photos, and watched the news. The horror is simply that. Horror. I'd ruled out any possibility of ever receiving the package and to be quite honest, was perfectly fine with that. The price of a camera was unimportant. I just hoped that Ben and his family were safe.

I returned home this afternoon after running several errands to find a package waiting for me. It was sitting on my stoop in the warmth of the sunshine. The return address read Staten Island and the postmark was October 29, 2012, the very day that Sandy made landfall. I was shocked. Knowing that this little camera came from an area of such devastation just a few days ago and now it's new home is in the calm of autumn a few hundred miles south is nearly unimaginable.

A person's character speaks greater words than any that ever come from their mouth. On Monday, just hours before Sandy's arrival, I'm sure that Ben had far more important things to do than worry about getting a package in the mail. Once again, character speaks volumes. My thoughts and prayers go out to Ben and all those affected by this disaster. Please let me know if I can do anything to help.

Peace and goodness to all.

A Sandy Olympus ©2012 Gary Garbett

celebrating birthdays. celebrating years.

A Birthday Wish

We recently celebrated our daughter’s birthday… again. It feels like I light the candles on that family tradition birthday cake every few weeks rather than years.

Aside from those years when I was an ambitious teen managing my small town paper route monopoly, fatherhood feels like it’s been a fixture in my life for my entire life. With everyone now grown, my position, as a father is certainly different than it once was. The love and dedication I have for our children has never wavered. Those emotions however, much like our children and myself, have all matured. Adjusting from so many years of dedicated full time parenting to an occasional visit a few times a year has certainly taken some getting use to. I get better at it every day.

From the time I was a child myself, I’ve always been an avid collector of music. With this new level of parenting, I’m now able to listen to quite a few more albums in their entirety than I was able to find time for over the past three decades. My dogs and I also spend more quality time together than we once did. They love it and so do I. Luckily for me, the pups are also music aficionados. It’s a double win for each of us.

Perhaps there was a day or two during my endless years of parenting that wasn’t quite perfect. The whole parenting thing is so judgmental. It doesn’t come with a manual or even a report card, but I’m convinced that I did a better than average job as Daddy. What I do know for sure, is that every moment of it came from the heart.

Before you know it, we’ll be celebrating another birthday year with that same cake recipe and lighting a few more candles. Before that time though, the pups and I have enough time to listen to a few more records. Life, like a song, is beyond that good.

friday morning’s big shoe breakfast

Flipp Breakfast

Yesterday afternoon was sort of like being in the produce section of the grocery store and running into an old girlfriend that I hadn’t seen in a decade or maybe two. No. Wait. Actually it was more like stumbling into one of my favorite kick ass rock bands who I hadn’t heard from in way too long. Plus this was far sexier than any produce aisle and it came with liner notes.

While digging through my endless collection of music yesterday, my soul was kickstarted much the same way it was fifteen years ago with the all out guitar driven assault, punk angst, energy driving, and in your face rock and roll of FLIPP.

I was introduced the band when they opened for Cheap Trick’s 1997 tour. A friend gave me a heads up after seeing the tour a week earlier. He suggested I get to the show in time for the opening band. That’s all I needed to hear and trusted his call. I just went with it. From the time FLIPP took the stage in front of their wall of glittery Kustom Amps and punched the first power chord, I was all in. Sold. Done.

My life has changed a little bit since first seeing FLIPP. My passion for kick ass music however, has not. Re-listening to FLIPP’s library over the past day relit that same fuse that was sparked when I first heard the guys play “I Wish I Was a Planet” on that small stage in Richmond’s Floodzone. It was unbelievable. Today’s breakfast at my office included an orange, two cups of coffee, and Flipp’s back catalog. I stomped my Doc Martens under my desk a few times, loosened the collar on my button down, and threw my fist to the air on several occasions. Even wearing slacks, I’m happy to testify that Rock and Roll ain’t dead.

Although the band hasn’t played in several years, FLIPP, for me, remain a real rock and roll band for the sake of just that… Rock and Roll. In my review of their sophomore release, I wrote:

“Once again, Rock and Roll raises it’s head, steps out front with big shoes, glittery screaming guitars, and demands attention. Flipp is a much needed rock and roll enema and their new release is a winning royal flush.”

I still believe every word I wrote and I still believe in this band. I also believe I’ll take the longer road home from the office today, guaranteed to have all the windows down, the roof open, and the music louder than loud. I may even stop by the grocery store too. You never know who you may see in the produce section. I Still Love Rock and Roll. Period.

blue collared hero

Father's Day Hero

My father meant the world to me. As years continue to pass, I've come to understand that more and more. Dad was a regular blue-collar kinda guy. He worked hard with his hands, and loved his family. He was also known to have a few days when he was the farthest thing from being an angel. Still though, he was my hero and my teacher of lessons, honesty, and hard work. He made sure I understood the importance of always being the man I saw in the mirror, not someone fake.

If there was ever a man of his word, it was my father. And when he gave it to you, you could count on that word and him. Period. He taught me that whenever I had one of those days when I did something wrong, it was my responsibility to own it, all of it, and to do whatever it took to make everything right again… if not, better. Apologies, love, forgiveness, and sincerity are life essentials. He taught me the value of each one.

The boys of 1966.

It's been 20 years since I spent Father's Day with Dad. I miss those Sunday afternoons that we'd regularly spend together just as much as I miss his smile. I still believe in heroes, especially mine.

Thanks Pop. Happy Father's Day.