Awesome Maple Fog

maple fog

The path of my morning run, like that of my life, is full of distractions that either knock the wind out of me or take my breath away. We would all like fewer of the former and more of the latter.

My broken camera and I are best buds. In the past three weeks, I must have uploaded 400 images. Some are like these. Some are dreck.

I am a competitive person, but I don't compete outside of my realm; this is where photography lies. I remember little of my high school and college photo courses, and what I have retained isn't really relevant in this digital age. And usually I don't even bother pursuing—even as a hobby—things at which I can't excel. A couple things, like running and photography, are too rewarding to let go.

At the things I do well, I'm fierce. I enjoy them with vigor and gusto, which makes defeat all the more crushing. If my crab hadn't been selected, I might have spent the summer in a blue funk. When my essays are rejected, I feel deflated. When my daughter misbehaves, I feel worthless.

Though I love writing and making mosaics*, I have found such joy in picture taking! My little camera isn't the best, but we are like an old married couple after just a year. We know each other inside and out. Sometimes my camera helps me to peer into the souls of the trees! Can you imagine a more peaceful place than the soul of a tree?


-------

*I have been selected to appear on HG-TV's Look What I Did! for my work on my sister's mosaic, which you can see with a detailed explanation here.