San Francisco has been under lock down due to the pandemic so I thought this would be a good opportunity to explore my local surroundings. Tree trunks don’t usually grab my attention. Generally I spend my time looking up into trees, looking at leaves, flowers, Spanish moss, etc. But as I started paying closer attention I realized how unique each one is, a snowflake in its own right.
This is one of my favorite places to be. It's hidden and not many people know about its existence. Golden Gate Park is teeming with activity. On any given day you will encounter roller skating disco parties, bikers and joggers, dance classes, dog walkers and families enjoying picnics and more. But here things are different.
The redwood tree glen is not clearly visible or easy to find. At its entrance you are greeted by a refreshing coolness and a hushed silence that's a refuge from the frenetic energy of the park. Other than a few scattered bird calls, the 15-acre grove is quiet and perfectly still. The feeling it invokes is reverence. It's clear why it was dedicated to San Francisco locals that lost their lives in WWI. The area was dedicated in 1919 just a few months after the war ended before a crowd of 12,000 mourners.
In 1932 as further tribute, this 18-ton granite boulder bearing the names of the 748 men and 13 women who died was placed here. It's called Gold Star Mother Rock after the organization which was formed shortly after the war for the purpose of remembering the fallen and supporting grieving parents. They took their name from the symbolic window hanging of a gold star which was displayed by grieving families during wartime.
Heroes Grove is a beautiful and often missed area of Golden Gate Park that should really be on everyone's list of places to visit not only for it's historic significance but simply for its natural beauty. I'm sure it will become one of your favorite places to be.
Imaginary friends are created by the needs of an overactive imagination. They are frequent companions to many children during the age period in which they are learning to discern what is real and what isn't. Generally considered harmless during childhood, imaginary friends can last into adulthood when at last a deep sorrow can be discovered.
In Julie de Waroquier's "Doppelganger" illustrates an adult woman's relationship with her imaginary friend, one to whom she's become so inseparable to that she's an exact reflection of herself. Perhaps her friend is an extension of herself that she's kept hidden from herself.
The narrative depicts the woman coming to the realization that her imaginary friend is not real and eventually drowns the proof of her absence and is from then on shown alone. She no longer suffers from her psychic neurosis. Her lonely reality in its place.
The translation of her note reads: "It's been a longtime that my words have received your silence. But the images cried at not seeing you. They drowned my lie and diluted your memory. I no longer hear the echo of your absence . (I still feel your shadow under my feet.)"
Scroll below to see the full series.
Tom Hussey's photo series was published in 2010 but I just discovered it and am so inspired. The beautiful series features a sentimental depiction of elderly patients looking at their younger reflections. Tom's experience as a commercial as well as a lifestyle photographer come together to gracefully capture the separation between body and mind.
The concept for the series was inspired by a conversation he had with a World War II vet who was incredulous at how quickly time had passed, stating that he often felt like he'd just returned from the war and then looked in the mirror and an old man was staring back at him.
Pharmaceutical drug company Novartis featured the images as part of its marketing campaign for the Exelon Patch, which is used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Coming to terms with aging is an experience we all go through and is a topic that's uncomfortable and yet easily relatable. It's inspiring to see the topic depicted so beautifully. The series won a Gold Addy Award from the American Advertising Federation and was featured in the Communication Arts 2010 Photography Annual.
Scroll below for additional images from the series.
This blog post is more of a reminder to myself than anything else. Most New Year's resolutions are made and pursued in earnest for the first few days, week and occasionally a few months into the new year. Than they slowly slip away, only to be resurrected once again on New Year's Eve. I'm just as guilty as everyone else. Though I've made strides they always fall shorter than my initial intent. So this year I hope to stick to my goal of being healthier. Of selecting nature and whole over friend and processed. Of drinking more water and less rose. Of pushing myself physically and not just going through the motions (because no one can tell). Of being proud of myself at year's end instead of assuring myself I could have done worse.
I took this picture prior to making my breakfast smoothie. The vibrancy of the berries against the metal colandar looked so appealing that I thought it would serve as a positive reminder that making the healthier choice should and will appeal to me.