Sharing Nature

Ted is already accomplished as an outdoorsman. He grew up in the Scouting program and from the time he was 13 was doing canoe trips in the Adirondacks. He learned a lot about the outdoors and also about himself through the program. As a senior patrol leader he had a chance to develop and practice his leadership methods and style, his communication and how to get things done.

I was surprised when Ted mentioned that he had never been hiking at Ramapo Reservation. Scouting has a long distinguished history in Bergen County and there have been at least two scout camps along the hills of the Ramapo River where Ted has overnighted... but I'm talking about a day hike here. So I had the chance to lead and introduce Ted to the trails and ease of accessibility and the diversity of terrain of what is today my favorite outdoor space. We hiked South along the river and then inland and up the rocky hill on the 'Orange' trail. When we merged with the paved road we headed back down the hill. So our movement exercise that day was not tennis or bike riding, but instead we spent a few hours in the shade and sun on the trail. What an excellent day!

Fathers Day 09

I have been experiencing Father's Day for a few weeks now. I've always wondered how the 8mm film I took in the 90's would ever make it 20 or 30 years later. What technology would be available to convert those images and experiences to be replayed...now? My 8mm camera is long non-functioning, the DVD video camera works ok and the new MP4 digital memory HDvideo camera is my latest tool, along with a backup hard drive.

So fathers day began with looking at my 35mm slides and remembering experiences back in 1975 through the late 80's when that was my prime medium. Then I researched how to get the slides and then the early 1990's videos into a digital format. I went down a quick ride through memory lane as I sorted the slides into A(must digitize), B(nice but not top priority) and C (the bulk of them- leave as they are). I've been working with my A slides- And this is one that represents Father's Day- Zach (now 27) was a few months old, me the father holding him and my father looking over. Ages 3 months, 28 and 58 years old.

I found that you can send out 8mm or VHS to be digitized, or you can add a card to your PC but what I chose was a simple DVR. I found an old 8mm video camera that supported the analog video and sound out that then inputs into the recorder. Every morning for the past two weeks I've been starting a recording, catching a few key elements of family history and letting the DVR do it's work. I'm up to 18 DVDs that go back to 1990 where Tim was just a year old and his language was a series of grunts and motions. I captured then and watched now sports events, parties, class plays, visits from family, night time skate grinding in the back yard, camping vacations, reunions that now are all so special 15-19 years later. Most of these videos I had never watched after the day they were taken. Too many cables.

Father's Day as activity-
Ted, Tim and I have been doing home projects- Tim has just completed painting a room. It came out well and he has more plans to move roller against wall. Ted and I have been attic jockeys installing ceiling fans in 3 rooms. In the late afternoon we try to take a break from the project and get out. Some days we're playing tennis and on other we're bike riding and the other night we went to the park to watch 8 year old baseball. We didn't stay long but it is the same park where I taped Tim in 1997. We live in an NJ town of tradition, where things do not change very much, even from generation to generation. There is a park, with a swimming lake, sports fields, the red barn for picnics and sports awards presentations and a playground. Driving past the playground I saw a family of 3 generations getting back into their car. There were 6 people. One was an older man and a younger man (my guess the father and son) moving slowly and getting into the front seat. There were two women (my guess the mother and daughter -generationally) and then there were the two small kids, maybe age 3 - 5. It's funny how that image and the replayed movie images I had watched that morning took me back to when my kids were that age and my parents came to visit and we spent time at the playground. That is when I remembered my father.

That is one end of the spectrum of father's day- remembering my Dad. Then the other end is of course being a Dad. I close with this picture taken last week of the three adults. Part of this revolution and recreation of photographic expression I'm having is planning my next set of pictures. This was taken in raw mode on my Nikon D70s. Once I figure out how to process raw images I'm going to have it printed.

Homer

I met Homer when I was in my 20's. A life long dairy farmer from NE Penna, his father purchased the land in the 30s I believe. And now the 4th generation of family operates the farm. Homer and his son Lew have been anchors for me. Lew is as my brother. A quick phone call, a visit at the farm and on Memorial Day weekend we were together during for a picnic and camp out. Last Sunday, after a day at spent with his son, grandson and great grandson working and planning the corn planting near Bushkill, Homer came home and made his transition while resting in his chair. A life complete.

Last winter I spoke to Homer at a luncheon where we honored his wife, Mary, who passed in February. In her memorial service people talked about how Homer and Mary had a stop in and talk, stop in to pick up eggs policy for neighbors and friends. They attracted many friends. That day Homer told me how he had always wanted to have 'the Farm' be a place where people could come, visit, and receive. He achieved that and that vision continues with his family. I received great gifts from Homer.

post note- Friday. Ted and I attended the funeral service yesterday. Driving by the farm there were about a half dozen people standing and talking by the barn. We stopped in to honor Homer, to come, visit and receive.

What we teach

For years I have been attracted to Tai Chi. I've owned videos, DVDs and now have moved to actually taking classes at Mind Body Yoga. What I enjoy is the smooth flowing actions and rhythms that stretch, awaken and exercise my body. I experience great peace in the movement. The beginning of the class is all about breath and stretching. Then we move to learn individual steps of movement. We then combine movements (23 of them) and practice the form all together. The cool down occurs with a breathing and stillness mediation with arms high above head and chest open. We close through sharing green tea. Don, the leader is masterful.

No pictures on this one.

I have invited Tim and Ted to attend for a few weeks now. Yesterday they came to a class. Both are physical and athletic guys. I felt proud and contented that they experienced this different kind of movement. A movement of ease and grace. A model for ease and grace in life.