100,000 Snow Geese

100,000 Snow Geese

Kent County, MD

Fall 2012

I heard on NPR radio that snow geese travel in flocks of 100,000 at a time.  I didn't believe it.  That's too many birds and who counted all of them?  I also heard that they migrate through parts of Maryland, about an hour from my home.  So I decided to go out in search of them.  I went to Kent County where my uncle used to own a gentleman's farm.  I knew there were large fields there that could possible accommodate 100,000 birds. I drove around and drove around but found nothing.  Then I heard them and followed the sounds.  And now I believe that snow geese migrate in flocks of 100,000 at a time.

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Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

 December 8

 1961 to 1972

 Catholic schools

 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I am the sorrowful product of 12 years of Catholic school. Most of those moments were grim. But one of the few happy moments what’s every December 8^th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In my younger years, the nuns never liked to explain what this observation day was. They never liked to talk about conception so I never knew why I was having the day off but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that I never have to go to school on December 8.

In high school the nuns wanted us to know why the immaculate conception was so important.  It had nothing to do with sex but rather it focused on the Blessed Virgin mother. According to scripture, Mary. the Mother of Jesus was the only person ever born without original sin. Hers was the immaculate conception. Even upon hearing this I still didn’t care about the Immaculate Conception. I only cared about having the day off each and every day of my life during those very long 12 years.

 I loved it when December 8 fell on a Wednesday. That meant I had the weekend prior off, I went to school for two days, had no school that Wednesday, went to school for two days and then at the weekend again. That was a wonderful, bearable week of school. I hated it when December 8 fell on a Sunday because then we had no day off.  That day was insignificant to me, almost joyless and without any thought of original sin. As a matter of fact, I viewed these lot days as sinful.

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Time Square

Time Square

NY, NY

I don't go to Time Square often but when I do, I am filled with excitement.  The moment and the crowds overwhelm me.  The pace is too fast for me. the restaurants are too expensive.  I can't afford a theatre ticket unless I only go to the half price booth. I never buy anything there because I refuse to pay the 8% tax on every damn thing. Nothing is free.  No one is patient. Crossing the street is dangerous.  I constantly have to watch out for my purse and pickpockets. The loud announcements are deafening.  It's just a great place.

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Bliss

 Bliss
San Francisco, CA
April 2015

"You are going to love her, " Sam told me.  "She has such a presence."

I was not quiet sure what we are going to see but we drive from San Jose to San Francisco just to see her.  And Sam is right.  I loved her.  I loved every angle of her and I just couldn't take enough photos of this magnificent, beautiful giant.

After the Walk

After the Walk

The Camino de Santiago de St. James

Spain

October 2012

I really didn't like this walk.  It was sort of boring. The week I walked, it rained every single, damn day.  I was never dry and my shoes squeaked. My bones were damp and my interest was low.  But I loved the moment I finished the walk for the day. I loved all the stuff that happened after the day's walk. I loved the late afternoons and nights.  I loved arriving at a hostile and finding familiar people and new people each night.  I loved sitting at an international table and talking about the world. I loved listening to people's reasons for walking the Camino.  I loved the food. 

I loved watching people prepare for the next day. People mostly did their wash.  Others attended to their blisters.  Everyone had a journal. Some sat at the bar and drank more than they probably should have. Others went to bed as early as possible so that they could be up as early as possible to start again.  Me, I lingered at the table as long as I could.  This was my reason for walking the Camino.

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Birthing Paintings

 Birthing Paintings

Jamel, Haiti

Summer 2013

I am in Jacmel, managing a free health clinic for a few weeks with several American doctors. Most of them are gynecologists and constantly talk about things that I find gross. They talk of discharge and pus and afterbirth substances.  I never talk about these things. They are gross.

One of the doctors came in to the clinic and asked if anyone saw the cool birthing paintings in the art shop down the street.

"You should see them.  I think I am going to get one for my office.  They are really different".

So at the end of the day, I walked down to the art store to take a look. This is what I found and I couldn't believe that anyone would want this hanging in her office.

Landshut, Germany

Artist At Work

Artist At Work

 Calder Alley Mural Project

 San Francisco, CA 

April 2015

He is just finishing up this mural and then he is leaving the Bay Area.  "It's just too expensive here.  I can't make a living."  He will move to Philadelphia where he can live more cheaply and still be an artist.  "I'd love to stay here but I can't pay my bills.  When I'm finished, I'm out of here."

Oktoberfest- German

OKTOBERFEST

Munich, Germany

September 17, 2016