080303 Galway
Galway
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The details and reasons aren't necessary. I only need say that the circumstances of my family have created in me a deep nostalgia for happy moments in my life. I often daydream very clear, specific, and powerful faraway memories.
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 My older brother and I are in Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery behind us, in the middle of Swingin' London, 1965. Pigeons kept landing on my head, which we found hilarious. I am 8 years old, and Rick is 12. His birthday is June 8, two days before mine.
I am looking at my grandmother while she quickly tries to capture the moment; that is her finger blurring the right side of the picture, something she did a little too often.
The single most important influence in my life, on who I am, my grandmother took my brother and I on a summer-long European trip that year to England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, and France. We were gone nearly two and a half months, and I remember much of this trip. For an 8 year old, that's a long time to be away from parents, but I do not recall getting homesick once. I think that is because I was with her.
Rick turns to look behind, the square a flurry of fluttering pigeons, spraying water, and circling traffic. I stand still for the picture, happy in the moment. Now I look at a much younger self through my grandmother's eyes, looking at myself looking back at her. It is like I am carrying her with me now, seeing more clearly that moment, who she was, the example of a way to live.
She died in 1992, and I think of her frequently.
I wrote and drew a short story just over one year ago about this photograph. My grandmother is featured in some of the other stories: 2002/07/24; 2002/07/25. Rick is the oldest brother in two other stories: 2002/07/19; 2002/07/23.
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At UCB: "The Geo-Images Project attempts to make images (mostly photographs) that are useful in teaching geography more widely available using computers and the internet."
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Women Of Our Time photo exhibit at the Smithsonian- beautiful design, excellent content, nice audio.
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Pat Delaney has a new weblog. Will no longer be using IU. The new design incorporates a painting by Goya, Le Chien, presumably in tribute to Pat's dog, Harry.
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