Category: Front Porch Musings

I had some phenomenal teachers in high school and am forever grateful for them as well as for the influence of my parents on reading, problem solving, learning, loving to learn…AND learning that failure is something to be learned from, laughed about and absolutely not feared.

And I have a Canon camera… although my first camera was a Minolta, rescued from a pawn shop bin by my father and given to me on my 16th birthday.

I was made to first learn in black and white, NOT Kodachrome :) !!

And I have no idea why sometimes these songs come to mind. Music, as in the “current” music was not and is still not of great importance to me. I guess I had the car radio on when I was young but I didn’t buy much music…ever. And now: I prefer listening to the wind in the trees and chatter of the animals or the sound of my car or motorhome engine…so HOW do I know and/or remember these songs?

A mystery.

But yesterday, walking through the woods with Bear as the sun was setting and lighting up the wood grasses and dead thistles…I wanted to capture the moment and the feeling.

I love to take a photograph.

And the song came to mind, unbidden, out of the ether.

Kodachrome by Paul Simon

When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It’s a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn’t hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall

Kodachrome
You give us those nice bright colors
You give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, oh yeah!
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So Mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away

If you took all the girls I knew
When I was single
And brought them all together for one night
I know they’d never match
My sweet imagination
And everything looks worse in black and white

Kodachrome
You give us those nice bright colors
You give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, oh yeah!
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So Mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away

For the last maybe two to three years, I’ve sat it in more than on the front porch. Both Karl and Bear liked/like the spot I now call Beardog Point…not too far, but not too close – a spot that allows an eye on the game trail below and also the road.

For me, to be close to my dog – not so close as to be intrusive, but near enough – to be in the shade of the pines, to have a bit of view to the east and to the west – it is a good spot.

I spent hours in this chair near Karl when he was well and then when he was not. I sat in this chair in the morning, in the evening and a number of times in the middle of the night. I count every moment in this chair, with my dog near, as moments dear to me. There are times when I feel like I can remember every one of those moments.

I remember praying for Karl – for healing, for his comfort, for peace and for wisdom. I remember just sitting and being with him.

Now, with Bear, I have the joy of seeing him become comfortable at this place and with me and with Bob. It is endearing that he lies in nearly the exact same spot that Karl did. I feel sure that Karl speaks to him in some way. I have certainly asked Karl to do so…particulary in regards to Bob :) !

This chair.

Today I celebrated 57 years on this earth.

I am grateful for every day I’ve had and for all the things that have been and are now part of my life.

Thank you all for your well wishes.

It was a beautiful day.