cstreet.us

The Long Way Home

Calvin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:20:41 +0000

This is a favorite time of year, as evenings become milder and occasionally there is a hint of fall in the wind. With the Mini’s top down, Judy says, “Let’s take the long way home,” and off we go – just enjoying the time together.

George Elliot described friendship as “the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words.” Yes, but I prefer writer Gail Caldwell’s thoughts about a best friend — “a person who admires and cares for us not in spite of our flaws, but in acceptance of them, as part and parcel of who we are”. This is the largeness of Judy’s friendship.

Being best friends is about “shared rituals and private jokes, long walks and longer talks, confessions and discoveries” – or more simply, taking the long way home.

September Masthead

Calvin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:51:42 +0000

I shot the photograph used in the September masthead last year — a flag draped over the driver’s seat on a San Francisco street car. This month the morning commute gets a little longer as kids return to school, we get away for Labor Day trying to hold on to summer as long as possible, and weekends become all about football — our favorite sport. In the United States, September 11 is Patriot Day, and collectively we will remember those who lost their life in 2001. We will talk about our differences and affirm what unites us.

And I’m proud to be and American, where at least I know I’m free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land.

Still Celebrating Birthdays

Calvin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:00:16 +0000

Perhaps Amy has told you that today is her birthday. She started reminding me a month ago and both my Google and office calendars have those ever-present pop-ups. So I can’t forget. Happy birthday, Amy! Here you are in some of my favorite photos — including the infamous Smurf-Amy.

A Surprise Wedding Day

Calvin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:27:19 +0000

Every wedding is a unique experience. That was especially true for Christopher and Bethany last Friday. In a surprising change, they chose a quite, intimate setting for their wedding and asked parents and best friends Courtney and Steven to witness their exchange of vows. A summer afternoon ceremony under the gazebo at the Greensboro Arboretum, dinner at the nearby Print Works Bistro afterward — it worked for them in a wonderful way.

Judy and I really enjoyed being part of their wedding day and hope it marks the beginning of lifelong happiness for both of them. We are excited about getting to know Bethany (and Jim and Becky Wray) more and more.

Bethany & Christopher

Like We Are Fools

Calvin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:55:01 +0000

Amy and Ricky

Love lifts us up where we belong
Where eagles fly on a mountain high
Love makes us act like we are fools

In Less Than Two Months …

Calvin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:43:03 +0000

Matt and Magan will marry. They share these engagement photos with us today. Magan tells me the lake photos were completely spontaneous and the most fun.

Here’s the link to their wedding site: http://maganandmatthew.weddings.com. Enter the passcode: “allyouneedislove” (without quotes).

Two Weeks In A Boot

Calvin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:08:39 +0000

The notorious basketball coach and broadcast commentator, Al McGuire said “Winning is overrated. The only time it is really important is in surgery and war.” I trust yesterday’s minor foot surgery, to remove a bone chip and clean up the ball of my left foot, proves him right.

Bob checks out my boot Friday afternoon after surgery

The recurring inflammation flared up several months ago and because of the medicine I take daily following my stroke, the usual anti-inflammatory drugs were no longer a quick and easy fix for the pain. Simply putting on a shoe was painfully difficult. “You should have had surgery before having a stroke,” said the doctor, confirming again that the stroke wasn’t a good idea.

So surgery went just fine and today I sit on the sofa with my foot elevated — I’ll be here for two more days. The numbness from surgery is nearly gone, leaving only a little discomfort. Judy is taking good care of me as always, insisting that I do nothing and already I can’t wait until Tuesday when my boot and I can go out and about.

Can It Get Any Worse?

Calvin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:56:44 +0000

Summer has been one long heat wave, your job isn’t safe, the economy is still in the toilet, the Republicans are likely to win big in mid-term elections, and the terrorism alert remains “elevated”. There’s four more months left in 2010. Can things get any worse?

Click to enlarge

A forgotten sunflower fades from brilliant yellow within a week. How much faster can the joys of life turn into despair. We just can’t allow it. The true question is: When things get worse, where deep within ourself do we find happy days.

Sweet Tweets

Calvin — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:34:00 +0000

As social media, Tweeter is an acquired taste. Even it’s name promises something slight and inconsequential, yet another way to make hours disappear and have nothing to show for it. But occasionally the limitation of having only 140 characters produces intelligent, even humorous results. Start your week off with a laugh:

@KThoKMill: Tweeting twit/crossing Pitt/taxi hit and that was it/Driver didn’t know he’d hit her/he was reading tweeter’s twitter
@serafinowicz: Air travel can be scary, but it’s still the safest way to fly
@jonnygeller: The worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades
@koblin: Women Of Advancing Years Dominate Fashion Mag Covers >> As opposed to, say, *receding* years?
@jamescrabtree: “Donations pour in for Pakistan Floods Appeal,” says PR. Verb choice could have been better.
@RogervonOech: Palindrome of the day: Never odd or even

In Honor of Woodstock

Calvin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:46:19 +0000

Album cover photo of the original Woodstock vinyl record set

It’s the anniversary weekend of the Great Upstate New York Hippie Invasion — or, as many (may) remember it, the Greatest Trip Ever. I was searching for Woodstock images and found a great story behind the photo above, taken by photographer Burk Uzzle, working freelance on Saturday morning, August 16, 1969.

On a whim, Bobbie Kelly and Nick Ercoline, 20-year-old sweethearts, had gone to the legendary rock festival. Photographer Uzzle describes the morning like this: “Gracie Slick of Jefferson Airplane was singing, bringing up the dawn. And just magically this couple stood up and hugged. They kissed, smiled at each other, and the woman leaned her head on the man’s shoulder. I just had time to get off a few frames of black and white and a few of color, then the light was over and the mood was over.” (read the complete story here).

Burk Uzzle, now 71, lives in North Carolina, and still makes photographs. His work hangs in galleries and museums around the world. Bobbi and Nick? 40 years later — they’re still sweethearts.