2016

Yesterday I headed out for a walk. Not planning on a long walk, just a walk, but I think about things when I walk, solve problems and maybe sometimes it is even a meditation. Suddenly I found that I had walked through Rice Village and was starting to walk on the wonderful jogging/walking trail around Rice University. All the way around the University is almost three miles plus what I had already walked and I'd still have to get back to my son's house. Oh well, I thought, I'll go a little further and cut across the parking lot to head back.

My thoughts were about 2016. I just had a birthday and I'm starting my 80th year. Eighty years old. It is hard to believe. I remember when I thought 80 was old, really old and the people I knew in their 80's acted old. Do my kids, my grandkids, think I'm old? I dare not ask. Especially the grandkids. I might not like the answer. But here is the thing, I don't think I'm old. Yes, I do make some concessions for some things I use to do in my 40's, I'm not climbing ladders or moving bedroom furniture from one room to the other by myself, but I don't feel old. I feel healthy and happy.

When I thought about how happy I am, I remembered a TED talk I recently watched. It was a 75 year study of men from Harvard and men from slums and it had followed them for all 75 years asking questions about their lives and how happy they were. It wasn't money or fame that made them happy but it was family and friends and community that brought them happiness. I'm glad it wasn't money! I'm so blessed to have family, friends and community.

While I was striding along, I also thought about how good it feels to put one foot in front of the other, legs  strong, arms swinging, feeling the cold wind on my face and seeing the trees and traffic and other joggers and walkers. Last week a friend asked me if I was going to be younger in 2016. He was teasing about me writing about the book Younger Next Year. It will soon be three years since I read that book and I have to tell you I AM younger now than I was before I took some of the recommendations in the book to heart.

I really don't have time to be old. I still have so many things I want to do. Just this year, I want to join the Shootapaloosa friends I made last year in Port Aransas in Galveston for another B-12 shot of creativity, maybe a trip to Big Bend National Park with long, long-time photography friends, a trip to Nashville and beyond and hopefully a trip to Ireland. I bought a travel book on Ireland today. I'm doing some repair and remodeling work on my house and this year I want to finish the project I've been working on in Port Aransas. That project needs to go to the publisher.

So I'm walking and thinking and wondering, what word would describe how I am feeling about 2016 and the word I kept seeing in my head was JOY.  It is going to be a joyous year. And then, I realized that I'd passed the parking lot that I was going to cut across to head home. In fact, I'd almost gone all the way around the University. I laughed and kept walking. I walked 6.5 miles. Not too bad for someone heading toward 80.

PS I'm not sure how the picture above will look but I'm trying to coordinate several devices to add a photo. I think it may be dark but I can't tell for sure. I felt joyful looking at it as I walked along the walking trail. It isn't dark or dreary to me at any time of the year. At any rate it is a part of the campus at Rice University and I've always loved this forest of oak trees in the middle of the city.

Wilson the Castway

Does this remind you of anyone you know?

How about Wilson the basketball companion of Tom Hanks in the movie Castway?

He is a bit sturdier than he was in Castway but he still has a friendly face.

I found Wilson had "washed up" on shore in Port Aransas the first morning I went to the beach. Wilson had some rough nights in the wind, rain and tides but he had friends. Everyday I'd see someone putting him back together and taking a picture of him. One morning I talked with him and put his valentine back in place. I asked him if Tom Hanks was a nice guy. He waved his hand and kept on smiling. I wonder if he is still there.

Fire in the Sky

Last night we ate at Snoopy's Pier. Snoopy's sits on a little spit of land, almost under the Intercoastal Bridge by the Corpus Christi ship channel. It isn't up-scale dining by any means. Instead you order at the counter and within a few minutes they call your name. Your gulf-coast fried oysters or shrimp along with french fries are ready. They serve wine in the little airplane-portion size bottles and beer. Texas gulf coast fast food and it is okay. The main attraction in the evening is watching the sunset. Although we had wind and clouds all day the photo god blessed us with a beautiful sunset. The sun had already dropped behind the horizon but it left us this a fire in the sky.

Images to make, People to see.

It has been a long time since I posted to Reservations for One. Oh, I have three drafts started that have become hopeless outdated. Perhaps this one can be finished and posted all in one day. Let me just say that this year has started off way too fast. But it is all good.

I'm in Port Aransas again but this week with a photography group called Shootapalooza. It has been a wonderful experience to see great work, share photography plans and see and play with new processes. I only knew a few of these photographers before this week but I've made new friends and got to visit with some long time friends. The week isn't over. We will not break up until Saturday night. Shootapalooza is going to be one of the highlights of my 2015.

The weather hasn't been cooperating because it has been misty, gray skies, cold and strong winds. I wanted some bad weather to photograph but I only have one weather image to show that has any juice in it. That was yesterday. I looked out my window and the clouds were breaking up and the sky was beautiful. I jumped in the car and headed for the beach. This morning, cold but blue skies and I shot this couple walking along the beach.

When Shootapalooza is finished, I'm staying on in Port Aransas to work on my project. I've got some people I want to see and images to make.