Open Window

Perspective: The Last 50 Years

Graduation Mortarboard

2020 marks the 50th year since my classmates and I graduated from High School. Where did the time go?!

Sadly our reunion had to be cancelled because of COVID 19 and is now tentatively rescheduled for Spring 2021. In preparing for reunion, the organizers were very creative and thought it would be great fun and interesting if the class created a year book for this semicentennial event. They created a small questionnaire to help direct our thoughts which we could use or not, as we wished. I found the questions unexpectedly thought provoking.

I responded to the questionnaire in February, weeks before we'd ever heard of Coronavirus. For some reason one of the questions I answered then keeps coming to mind: "What have been the most significant aspects of the last 50 years: the people, events, happenings, lessons, or something else … that have most mattered?" If answering today, many would think the answer would unequivocally be Coronavirus and all it's alarming consequences, and perhaps when I can get some distance between the virus and my day-to-day life, I will agree but for now I wouldn't change my response ... because I have no perspective on this pandemic yet ... only opinions.

Right now, I must feel some solace and to do that I must acknowledge how fortunate I have been to have had and experienced all that I have. Thus I am sharing with you here my answer to that very question:

What have been the most significant aspects of the last 50 years: the people, events happenings, lessons, or something else … that have most mattered?

“The most significant aspects of the last 50 years”, have been the last 50 years. We have been an exceptionally fortunate generation of Americans. Certainly, there have been ups and downs but for the most part it has been an exceptionally prosperous and peaceful-period in history. There have been wars but no world wars. There have been recessions but with the exception of that last one, we recovered from them all quickly. Post WWII, the US was respected around the globe, our democracy thrived and seedling democracies established themselves around the globe; our Constitution and Bill of Rights held fast and our elected officials worked together as reasonable, bi-partisan, grown-ups (at least most of them).

Previous generations endured world wars, famine and the Great Depression. Future generations face a future of grave uncertainty with global warming, a nervous global economy, limited global resources, and the self-interests of the players on the global political stage. For the first time in these 50 years, the next generation will not be better off than their parents. These last 50 years have been an historical exception not the rule, and we have been the generation who benefited from it the most. How very fortunate we have been to have lived these 50 years.

Placid

A Placid Morning Moment ©2020 Claudia Ward

Placid: "... serenely free of ... disturbance". When I read the dictionary definition of the word placid, I knew it was a perfect description of what I so appreciated about this early morning moment. 

While our days are so crammed with almost nothing but disturbing disturbances, I yearn to have and to hold on to a moment or two "serenely free of disturbance" and I am determined to have them. We all should seek them out and cherish them when they happen. Small jewels in time that no one can take away from us; precious moments that will shine with hope and comfort in our memory. I sincerely hope you can find some of these moments too, in the meantime, I'll share mine.

 

The Commonplace

Raindrops © 2020 Claudia Ward

“Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph; not searching for unusual subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual." Edward Weston

I have enjoyed this quotation since I first read it years ago, probably because it seemed to give me license to do what I often do naturally, photograph something simple in a different light, manner, angle - the way it caught my eye and imagination.

We've had a lot of rain recently and the raindrops made this fascinating design on our newly cleaned patio table. I love the shapes but I particularly like the color which is the result of the surrounding blue sky and green hedge colors merging.

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Cosmo the Crewcut Cartoon Character © 2019 Claudia Ward

I know I've seen this character somewhere before but research has revealed nothing. Does anyone out there recognize this dude  from days of yore? I've nicknamed him Cosmo for the benefit of alliteration. In reality, this dude is a photo of a children's swimming pool taken around sunrise from a balcony five floors up.

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And finally, meet Jacinta ...

 

Young Lady Wearing a Mantilla © 2018 Claudia Ward

This reminds me of a young lady wearing a mantilla, which is a traditional Spanish veil. In reality, I made some almond butterscotch cookie cups last Thanksgiving and I had to let them cool and take shape by drooping them over an "upended teacup or glass". This was my solution, one I found quite entertaining.

Even the commonplace can be unusual.

Have any uncommonly usual images or even unusually common images. Share them I'd love to see your imaginations at work.

 

Up With the Sun

April Sunrise © Claudia Ward 2020

Ever since I was young, my favorite time of day was early morning. The peace and quiet is unequalled and there's anticipation in the air. Of what? We never know, but in my opinion that's one of the joys of life.

At sunrise, while others are still lost in slumber or just beginning to climb out of the comfort and warmth of bed, you can find me in one of my favorite places, the beach. Watching the sun rise out of the ocean is never boring and trying to capture the magic of those moments is one of my favorite pastimes. Thankfully pursuing this pastime doesn't involve a lot of effort to ensure social distancing.

There are four of us who regularly share these moments of peace: a German man who has a charming smile, a friendly wave, and is tucked in a sheltered corner of the beach house on the dune; a woman who's generous spirit includes bringing bread or leftover fish from dinner for the seagulls; and, a newcomer who is bundled to the hilt against the chilly ocean winds and steadfastly watches the horizon for the sun's debut. As for me, I am usually at the water line wearing my Hunter boots capturing the wind, water, and sand as they each dance across the shoreline, leaving only fleeting reflections and colors.

I'll be sharing some of these moments with you here. I understand that morning-people are the exception not the rule, so I think it's only fair that you get to see some of what you've missed.

P.S. I know it's been a long time since I've posted regularly, in part that was due to some "technical difficulties" which I believe are now corrected. Please do leave a comment to let me know you're still there. Share an image of your favorite time of day or pastime.

It's Scary Out There

"It's Scary Out There"

Peter and I saw this image on television yesterday and it struck both of us as a picture of how we feel these days ... and we expect many others feel the same. It's scary out there!

For a population that's always in motion and busy interacting with one another for employment or entertainment, coming to an abrupt halt is painful, and if the halt is not startling enough, seeing no true end in sight is scary for some and downright terrifying for others. The good news, if one can call it that, is that this is the 21st century and we live in a digital world - we have the internet, Zoom, Constant Contact, FaceTime, etc. .... So our "isolation" isn't completely isolated. We can smile, laugh and cry together - just not in the same room and sadly with only air-hugs.

But, we should be grateful that our isolation is not solitary confinement. Remember Clint Eastwood in "The Hole" in "Escape from Alcatraz", Paul Newman "In the Box" in "Cool Hand Luke" or Steve McQueen a.k.a. Hilts in "The Cooler" with his baseball in "The Great Escape". You say you're bored and antsy? Watch one of these movies and then let's be grateful for our not so isolated isolation. It could be so much worse.

Stay well