"Front Doerr....Back Doerr"

Look at these two....the picture emanates happiness! While there is a faint whisper of a devilish pose from "Front Doerr" to see him own up to his true persona his smile would light up the night. And certainly there is no disguising her exhilaration from the "Back Doerr" sharing the pixels with her beau of now 62 years for her smile radiates joy. They are a unique couple in today's revolving array of splintered and fractured relationships. Staying together for that length of time contradicts the very nature of our concept of marriage today. With divorce rates being as high as 1 out of every 2 marriages, they've left a template of marital continuity that should be put in the history books. When the historians look at some of the great relationships in history, the Doerrs will rank up near the top. I've had the privilege of knowing them for almost 46 years, 22 of them as my in-laws but alas, my marriage to their daughter didn't survive and I count that as being a diminishing casualty of that marriage. And yet, I have been fortunate to remain friends with them and if you've read any of my previous posts about the "Front Doerr", last March he was almost called "home". But old buggers like him don't die easy and certainly his work on this earth wasn't finished. He's still here and thank God for this, for he is a good person and most assuredly so is his bride. It's an honor to consider them friends.
You know the old saying when God closes a "Doerr", somewhere He opens another one. It's good to have 2 "Doerrs" to every home.

"You've Got.......

I was watching one of my favorite movies the other night (for the umpteenth time)"You've Got Mail". And I duly confess that I will watch it again....and again....and again. I'm at the point where if there were tryouts for JOE FOX, I'd win the part hands down as I know all the lines!! Now, if I could convince Meg Ryan to reprise her role as Kathleen Kelly, my heart would leap!!
And while it's the updated version of another of my all time favorites-"The Shop Around the Corner", I look beyond the basic "enchantment" of the theme of the movie of online dating, the mercurial element of surprise to learn someone you're interested in could be that close to you without knowing it, but the impact of social networking on the population of the world-namely blogging. I confess to not being a "textor" for I find it rather impersonal and somewhat passive aggressive for the weak of heart. Emailing has become a "convenience" to reach the masses and while it too is rather impersonal, it does have its benefits. I know if I were in a relationship with a woman now, I would not use "texting" to communicate with her. I find it much more sensitive and loving to call her rather than send her an emotionally abandoned message on her cell-"Honey, what's for supper"? It would be an emotional connect to hear the sweetness of her voice as she said, "when are you coming home"?

I digress for a moment but all in line with the point of this blog. I remember a rather poignant line Kathleen (strange enough) writes to Joe after he has "stood her up" at the cafe. "The odd thing about this form of communication is you're more likely to talk about nothing than "something", but I want to say that all this "nothing" has meant more to me than so many "somethings". And so it goes with blogging. I don't have the slightest idea of how many "bloggers" are out there. One can go to your favorites and look at all the people who for instance list "You've Got Mail" as one of their favorite movies (823,000). That's more people than the population of the U.S. And I know I'll never in my lifetime look at all 823,000, or the number of people who list "Love Actually" as one of their favorite movies, the really cool thing about this form of communication as Kathleen so touchingly writes, we're more so apt to talk about "nothings" in our blog, but they mean so much more than "somethings". I can go to "Ed" in the Phillipines and read about his day and what excites him; or look at "Karin" in Stockholm and read about her innermost feelings; or even "Melanie" from the Bayou and she can tell me about some home cooked Cajun recipe her great grandmother passed down to her. So, while there appears to be a certain element of disconnect, or disengagement from the use of technology, there is that one glorified anticipation of "what will NY152" say next!!

So, if some night when the wolves have stopped howling, the faint fragrance of Spring is in the air, Jack has finished his homework and shifted off to bed, and your wading through some of those 823,000 blogs of people who list "You've Got Mail" and you come across mine Meg, know that I'd take you in a heartbeat.

She Huffed and She Puffed and.....

Well.....much to my chagrin, the proposed winter blast that was "expected" didn't materialize to more than a frog's hair of snow. As I commented in a post several days ago, I'd hate to be a meteorologist in St. Louis. However, in fairness to the local weather scientists their actual reading of the tea leaves wasn't too far off. It may have been my "school boy" naivete that longingly awaited a sudden shift in the budding heads of two major fronts that were bearing down on our city to clash in a crescendo of a nor'easter that would send us into oblivion. But.....at best we got maybe 2" and unfortunately, there will be school tomorrow. We've already received more snow this season than we've had for a long time. Come on Mother Nature....let's play again!!

Da-Da-Da-Dump!!

Well, to my heart's delight, another "major" snow storm blanketed St. Louis with, (depending on where you live) you got either 3", or as much as 12" all within a path of no more than 40 miles. As I periodically interject some reference to weather conditions that stupefy our weather callers on this blog, I would not want to be a meteorologist in St. Louis. We St. Louisans are inherently relentless in our quest to obtain accurate and up to the minute predictions of what to wear as we step out the door. Do I wear the Cole Haans or strap on the Timberlands? Will the London Fog protect my new coif, or will the LL.Bean 8 oz. down ParkLane Ridge Parka barely keep me from frost bite? And if you've ever been so unfortunate to be suspended in our fair city during a snow, or even rain storm for that matter, you know way to well, ST. LOUISANS CANNOT DRIVE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER!! Oh, they'll tell you they can, even the ones with the SUV's that you need an oak tree to climb up to get in.

But again, as this post is not a weather commentary but a grown man's childhood predilection for his fondness of snow....and especially to see on the boob tube about 5:00 a.m. (or thereabouts) that his local school district has cancelled classes for the day. So sorry, gotta go back to bed!!

A Winter's Day

As I anxiously await the next parade of that "fallen shroud of snow", I reminisce of the lyrics to Simon and Garfunkel's hugely popular song-"I Am a Rock" With it's deteriorating method of separating oneself from human emotion and void of feeling anything for anyone it saddens me to think of those who've aligned themselves to this philosophy. One must impale oneself to be incumbent on all forms of human emotion...good or bad. It lends that person to experience the joys as well as the sorrows we're often surrounded by. It's much easier as Simon laments,"I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died", rather than risk heartache. But better to risk the pain of loss as Tennyson quotes, "Better to love and lost, than never to have loved at all".

Stopping By the Woods

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

I've loved this poem for many years and most of Robert Frost's poetry. While it appears to have a simplistic and straightforward meaning it does not and implies a depth of thought that belies the reader. However, I'm not going to offer an in depth analysis of this poem but reflect on what's transpiring outside my window as I type...it's snowing. It is truly one of my, if not most favorite weather phenomenons. I can't tell you the number of times I've been in the woods or possibly meandering down a trail in Colorado and watched and "felt" snow flittering down. There is but a arbitrary and unorthodox way in which a snowflake makes its journey to earth. I've often regarded snowing as rather charismatic. I'd probably get some argument from the patrons of Buffalo, or Fairbanks most likely their favorite color isn't white.

There is a deafening silence (which is quite paradoxical when you think about it)that perpetuates one's being. I can remember a time when I was in Estes Park hiking to Lily Mtn. with some friends and we could see the snow begin to cascade over the range. By the time we had reached the end of our trail and walking back to our car, the snow had filled the lot and we were knee deep in powdery and pristine flakes. And who cannot resist throwing oneself into this pillow of distinction and making "snow angels"? I often wonder if the crescendo of snow wasn't so muted, what sound would we apply to it?? I can only imagine very possibly a Beethoven Sonnet, or possibly something Shakespearean? Whatever symphony it would surely be something heavenly.

I'm offering up two images from several years ago when we had 10" of the white stuff fluff my yard and 3 of my favorites frolicking in the back yard.

SPRING IS ALMOST HERE

As an avid lover of the winter and all its cold, somewhat snowy days, shortened daylight hours, I can't help but subscribe to the notion that spring is just around the corner!! Really...the first day of spring is March 21 which is really only 73 days away. And by contrast since I respectively live for each day, the thought of "waiting" for 73 more days seems absurd. It is actually, but while Spring is about to burst forth, here's delightful image soon to burst forth in my yard....well, in spring anyway; a Chihuly Rose.

The FUTURE IS NOW

"I never think of the future. It comes soon enough."-Einstein

Interesting quote and how true. In my old philosophy days it conjures up memories of sitting in the "Grand Pubah" class and trying to discern any semblance of order to his lectures. I can remember him saying after one of his edifying discourses on order in the universe or the existence of God in the natural world, "I give you Descartes"!! I don't think any of his students quite followed his thinking (not that it may have been seriously flawed from a previous night of imbibing with fellow "Vinnies'). But my title of this post-"the future is now" seriously parallels Einstein's. For the future comes soon enough as each fleeting moment is in the past and the next moment is in the future. It comes way to quickly as who can stop time?? And I must honestly admit, there have been many moments most recently when I wish I could have stopped time...to be locked in the hear and now....not having to face the future. But, alas, as I don't have that propensity, reality sets in, and I'm only grateful that I continue to be thankful that each day is a gift.

"Mutch" ado about Plenty!!

This is a small video of the daughter of one of my closest friends. If you've read the "credits" to my blog, I mention his name as being one of my "influences" to the field of photography. Back when I had been fired two weeks before Christmas from a company who shall remain nameless, this guy took me under his wing to give me a job and show me the ropes of learning the fine art of printing, developing, shooting, etc. In fact, the tutor/pupil relationship blossomed into much more than employer-employee as he taught me much more than just the fine art of printing an 8x10 C-print. Those were the days of real darkroom photography, developing film, dupe transparencies, inter-negatives, and C-prints. Gradually the world of photography changed and the advent of the digital world began to encompass us. It was a world that he hasn't totally embraced-YET! I hope to some day get him back out in the field shooting..pictures that is. In the meantime, our friendship as endured 34yrs.

This is, as I said the wedding of his (and his beloved bride-Judy) only daughter-KC. I was honored to be present and also take some pictures as a "back up" and shoot some video of little KC, all grown up. This is what I've put together for that momentous occasion. I remember the day she came into this world and joined her big brother and the smile of a Cheshire Cat that came across Daddy's face....a little girl. Thanks "Mutch" for your knowledge, saving my butt one day some 34 yrs. ago, but most of all, for being my friend. Now if we can only get him to make MAC his favorite meal!!