A Bit of “Back to the Future” to Think About

/ Pat / 12 Comments

I haven’t posted much (or anything?) for about a year and a half but have been notified that my blog has been receiving increased attention in the past few months. Being a curious kind of person I checked it out and I am reposting this second most visited post – dated 15 January 2018.

I started reading what I was thinking 8 years ago and was slammed with emotions from all over the spectrum. What I wrote in 2018 sounds overly optimistic, now in 2026 one year into Trumps second presidency. But, for those of you reading from countries around the world, 70% of us hold very strong pro-democracy beliefs and our feelings are very complex and strong. We are pretty overwhelmed and… life is messy. My brain is overwhelmed when I begin thinking about where we are now, and I remember my brain crashing on election night, in Florida with our great Canadian friends, Don & Jackie, as Trump was predicted to win his first term in November 2016.

Yes, life is messy and it will take me some time to unpack what I wrote back then, as I am muddling through where we are now, and where I think we might be headed. I will begin by sharing with you the post from 2018 and then I will begin writing a post or two on what I am thinking about it.

This is not Who We Are

Lens-Artist Challenge: Quite Moment

/ Pat / 9 Comments

We just returned from a month of camping on Manitoulin Island, a Canadian island located in the north end of Lake Huron. We are frequently asked why we go to Manitoulin every year and we always give the answer of someone who has been going to the island every summer for 50-some years: There is nothing to do on the island. Just lots and lots of quite moments.

The quiet of moments of observing the late summer colors evolve in an undisturbed field along the one-lane path to the primitive (no utilities) campsite by the river.

The quite of leaves changing their color as they start their journey into hibernation.

The quiet of sitting by the lake watching nature’s movements.

The quiet of Gore Bay (population 900) where we go for breakfast (and internet) and groceries. Don’t have to get up early because nothing but the coffee shop opens before 9:00.

And the quiet of ending our days by cooking supper over a wood fire, roasting marshmallows, and settling into bed under a down comforter.

Tonight’s feature is fresh corn on the cob purchased from a small farmer just outside Gore Bay. So good!

Life is quiet on Manitoulin Island; no fast food, no four-lane roads, no traffic lights, and the lakes are bigger than the towns. What is there to do, you ask? People go for rides to count deer, go fishing, or go get an ice cream cone. And of course there are a few people on the island who are permanent residents and have full-time jobs.

Thank you, Ritva, for this very fun and perfect challenge for my week.

A Time to Play

/ Pat / 7 Comments

The Naples Botanical Garden had a children’s garden, pre-covid. I would frequently go there to photograph things from a children’s perspective, so I was saddened when it never reopened and has since been taken out.

How delighted I was to see a new kind of children’s play area installed this winter, made up of large stones, palm trees planted on an angle almost parallel to the ground, and a very large log. All for children to play on.

The stepping logs are so inviting that I’ve witnessed young adults giving them a try. Honestly, it took a very stern internal warning to stop me from seeing if I could make it from end to end. If you look at the right side of the photo below you will see kid-sized tables and stools. Every morning an employee gathers vegetation for the kids to explore. Every child visitor receives a packet of information and materials – I bet there is paper and pencil to draw a specimen or two.

What is amazing about the playground is how it impacts the child within of the 50+ year old crowd. Jim and I have had fun discussions about playing in neighborhood woods as we were growing up. There were some garden employees working in the area and they, too, indicated that it had triggered wonderful memories for them.

Unfortunately, this type of play can only be enjoyed in my mind’s eye – but what fun I have been having climbing and jumping.

Today We Celebrate Easter

/ Pat / 6 Comments
Gardenia, Naples Botanical Garden

This is the most consequential day in the Christian faith. This is the foundation of my faith, what I believe in. This year my thoughts have been focused on why I believe, more so than on what I believe in and the daily consequences of that belief. Most likely I have been going down this path of faith questioning because of all the chaos and suffering in the world and the chaos and uncertainty in the United States as we watch our government being dismantled. In difficult times we need a belief system to hang on to, to help answer difficult questions, to give us a purpose for moving forward. We need something to hang onto as we flounder our way through our sense of helplessness.

I have believed in my faith through good times and bad, through times of security and very threatening times. My Christian faith has been an important part of who I have been throughout my life; throughout all the variations of who I have been during my 80 years on earth. I know that my faith will continue to be central to who I am during my final years.

One of the most important reasons why I have chosen to follow Christianity, is that it has a God who encourages me to question my faith. God has taken on all of my anger, questioning, and doubt with good humor – and love. With that I take a deep breath and smile. Today is a new day and there is hope.