I Ride My Own White Horse ...

Friendship

Photo by jkhewett

One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.

~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca

I miss you both!

Why 13,286 Photos?

I was recently asked how many photos I had uploaded to Flickr.  I knew the number was well over 12,000 taken over the past 3 years.  This got me to think about why I have so many photos?  Why do I take pictures?  I also attended a wonderful photography workshop where I learned a great deal about post-production and editing.  A world I've tried to avoid.

So what is the answer?  In all honestly I have more than one answer as I take photos for many reasons.  The first reason is to record an event.  These photos may or may not have artistic value, but they have meaning.  They capture a moment in time that I want to remember.  I guess deep down I am afraid I will forget the details so I take LOTS of these pictures.

The second reason is to capture beauty.  This is the area in which I constantly struggle yet wish to improve.  When I look at one of these pictures I want to see and feel "WOW" I did that!  

During the photography workshop last week I took well over 600 pictures; however I would only want to truly share about 30.  Which I did on Facebook.

But I also created a short video that I hope captures the feeling from that week-end ... it's only a couple of minutes long, but I think it turned out pretty good.

Natural Beauty thru the Smoke ....

Natural Beauty thru the Smoke ..

Photo by jkhewett

"I'm not in this world to live up to your expectations and you're not in this world to live up to mine"

~ Bruce Lee

Raymond J. Rocha - We Remember You!

Today being the 8th Anniversary of a day we all wished had never happened, I learned of Project 2,996.  A project to honor those lost on 9/11.  I knew immediately that I wanted to take part!  While I didn't know of anyone personally who perished that day, I know of so many others who did.  I felt their pain and shared their grief. 

I have spent today coming to know Raymond Rocha from Melrose Mass.  I've read the stories of his life, the comments from his community and felt the loss of family and friends.  He was the All America kid!

Ray was a 1990 graduate of Melrose High School.  An honor student, an athletic and a good friend.

“Ray Lives.”

According to Ray’s mother, Ann, her son would write those two words wherever he could — typed on unattended computers for users to find upon their return, scribbled on notebooks and even etched into wet concrete.  Through his friends and family Ray continues to "live."

Rocha played football in high school and at Brown University before moving to New York City. His number is retired at the Melrose High football field, and a replica of his jersey was placed in a wall at the middle school. Rocha wore number 17. 

Rocha accomplished much in his too-brief life. After excelling at Melrose High, he stood out at Brown University academically and athletically, and eventually took a job with prestigious financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald as a bond trader, working on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

Above all Ray was a friend ... He once told his friend, Andrea:

"our lives were shaped by each other, through thick and thin--we will always be there for each other, friend."

Rocha memorial scholarships

Those who wish may send donations in Ray Rocha's memory to either of the two scholarship funds:

The Ray Rocha Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Friends of Melrose Football, P.O. Box 1461, Melrose, MA 02176; or The Ray Rocha Scholarship Fund, c/o Melrose High School, 360 Lynn Fells Parkway, Melrose, MA 02176.

Need to head to the gym in order to succeed?

The first requisite of success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem without growing weary.

- Thomas Edison

OK Thomas ... headed to the gym as I have many problems and will need all of the strength I can find!