Summer Hiatus?

Many of you have noticed my most conspicuous absence since Memorial Day weekend...

I would love to say I've been enjoying a much desired get-away... Soaking up sunshine & mojitos on a tranquil, tech-free beach... But not so much.

In truth Serendipity hasn't been in hiding on a tropical isle, but rather has been surfing the chaotic waves of Life. Family & friends, work & play, births & rebirths, the dead & the dying... It has been a season of change & renewal, of extraordinary excitement & deep sorrow... a time of Discovery.

While thus far I have been lax in delivering postcards from this frontier, please know that the collection has been building...

Warning: Haphazard Posting Ahead!

www.Serendipity1974.blogspot.com

Historic

It doesn't matter, really, if one is happy or sad or worried or even unsure if it matters that Barack Obama was elected President last night.

We cannot deny that this is a watershed moment in American history. A time when we, as a nation, spoke loudly at the polls. When a new generation of voters and a new type of mobilization of those voters was formed.

With an almost 2-1 margin we elected not only a man of color, but a young politician with a young family. We just brought small kids back into the White House. We have changed the energy that will reside in those hallowed halls.

We can still be cynical, if we want to. That is our right in this democracy.

But we should not doubt that History was made.

As Americans we should all take pride in that.

To risk paraphrasing... I have never been so proud to be an American. Or of my country. Or of my fellow citizens. This is truly awesome.

OMG
MSNBC just called Obama the projected winner.
Speechless

I voted! About 45 minutes... Not bad really.

My district is filled with apartment dwellers like me and has a hot state election...We are on a double line. Waiting.

On line waiting to vote.

Thursday Eve - 7 Train in Sunnyside

Simply - Graphically - Beautiful

Simple - Graphic - Beauty

Full Moon rising pale amber past salmon streaks in a still blue sky. Dusk and clouds creep in quickly. Now blank slate.

The Missing Posts, vol 1: The Bee Adventure

Well, as long as I'm posting for real... I'll give you all the whole story on the bee photo I originally posted last month.

I was headed out to work one fine morning, and saw these flowers had bloomed across the street. Crossing to get a better look, I discovered this entire bush was currently being serviced by about a dozen bees! Curiously enough only one of these was a bumble bee.

Perhaps this would be a good time to mention that in all my years (I fear I'm old enough to use this phrase and not have it be ironic) I have never been stung by a bee, a wasp, or any other potentially dangerous insect. However my mother always warned she was allergic to bumble bees, and thus I've been terrified to be stung.

All that being said, I was hell-bent on getting a picture of a bee inside a flower - best of all being the jumbo-sized bumble bee. I admit it, I was rather impressed with myself for even trying to get this shot. Hence this first photo is the result of the bee flying out of the flower and in my general direction, causing me to jump back and take the picture at the same time.

On my second try, I at least got the bumble bee in the shot. Really, that's the bee up at the top. Yeah, the fat black dot just to the left of the window. Aw, come on, can't you see the wings?

And the triumph of the whole crazy bee-stalking saga (did I mention this went on for about 20 minutes?):
The Bumble Bee inside the Flower!
(No, really, it is a bee, I swear.)

Let it never be said that I'm not out there, trying to capture those interesting moments so I can bring them to you, Dear Viewer. ;^)

Some News ~ Frustrating Tho it May Be

After searching around Blogger, I've discovered that this problem is not just mine. Seems the mobile blogging features are just flat not working.

Disheartening, to say the least, as I cannot find any kind of temporary fix or end-run around the problem. No other posting, save directly at the Blogger site, seems to be working at the moment.

Oddly, in searching for a fix I find that this problem has been going on since May, and while I've had some issues, I was at least getting some posts through up until 10 days ago. I suppose this means I should consider myself lucky.

I don't really... not being able to post directly from my phone, or even via email, means adding several extra steps (upload, download, do the hokey pokey & post yourself some pics) to bringing posts to On-the-Go.

However, I shall do my best to do so in a timely manner & hopefully much more so than mobile blogging had been allowing.

I hope to have old posts updated over this weekend, and then resolve myself to be a faithful online blogger until this mobile crisis is over...

Serendipity in Houston

As many of you may already know, my father had major surgery last Tuesday to repair an aneurysm of his descending aorta. I'm both delighted and grateful to report the surgery was a success and his road to recovery will soon lead us back to his home in San Antonio.

Although the circumstances have prevented me from posting this past week, that doesn't mean I haven't been looking and capturing images. What follows are photos I took as usual, but which I've posted from my computer rather than directly from my cell phone.

Unfortunately this is only a brief glance into the events of the past week. So many more images and thoughts come to mind... the families of other patients who filled the waiting room - as anxious and hopeful as I was - all of us sharing our stories and updating each other on our loved ones' progress... the doctors and nurses and all the staff and volunteers who have all shown such amazing kindness and patience in explaining what was going on, what could be expected, and in listening to - and answering - concerns and questions... the staff of the hotel who are also obviously used to having patients and loved ones staying there and so are equally helpful and generous with their time and support and encouragement... and finally the guests of the hotel that I've met - both the sick and the recovering and their loved ones - sharing our histories and results and comic laments in vans and at the poolside, over coffee and in elevators, the sincerity of our well wishes and sympathy no less deeply felt for our paths crossing so briefly.

There are times and places where each meeting leaves an impression that is a little deeper than normal. Although the stories, names and faces may fade from memory, the experience shared - even for a moment - shifts our perception and reshapes us in ways we may never fully understand.

Sunday: Figment 2008 on Governors Island - a game of Eye Spy

A few thoughts on the photos that follow:

I went out to my old stomping grounds, Governors Island, today to take part in the Figment 2008 Event. I found out some friends had volunteered to do energy work as part of the event, and tho I am still learning I asked to join them, as I was excited to go back to the island I had lived on as a child and practice in this place that I have always felt such a connection to. The Island has always felt like my hometown, even though it was a military base when I was there, and I only lived there for 4 years.

What a wonderful day! From the bright clear skies when we first arrived, to the thunderstorms that eventually forced us off the grass and into the abandoned church, every moment was delicious. And when the rain had passed, and my friend and I wandered out into the sunshine and wet grass, we began to explore just a few of the interesting exhibits and events going on in Nolan Park - which just happens to be the very part of the Island I used to live in.

What follows are just a few images from the day. I took many more photos on my regular camera, and I will be posting those to Flickr (per the request of the organizers) sometime soon. When I do, I will update this posting.

There are a Million Stories in the Big Apple: This One is about a Cigarette.

Veering right at the last moment, I headed out the doors of Grand Central instead of going down into the subway. I hadn't had a cigarette since morning and I suddenly wanted one before I got on the train home.

I turned, walking past several other commuters satisfying the same desire, and stood looking in the windows of a designer store. I took in the clean lines of simple yet elegantly designed clothing.

By contrast the kid standing next to me was in cargo pants and a flack jacket over a beat up sweatshirt. Shaggy from sandy blonde head to sneakered toes.

He turned and apologetically asked to bum a smoke.
I obliged, commenting that no thanks were needed as I believe in Smokers' Karma. And besides, my ultra light brand not being preferred by any guy, I knew he must be desperate.
At least, he smiled, they aren't menthols.

We inhaled, exhaled and looked around at the Friday evening traffic for something to say.
Did I mind his asking if I was a college student?
My turn to smile. Thanking him, I allowed as how I was not. By a long shot.

Inhale. Exhale.
He explained that I didn't seem cold or heartless, and in his experience in this City that meant I had to be either in college or born and bred elsewhere.
Which I was of course, and told him so.

And where was it he went to school?
Manhattan College, located ironically in the Bronx. Close, but not quite what he'd hoped for from the name. Good engineering program - not that he was in it.
Quite the opposite, in fact. Philosophy/Sociology major. Math not really being his thing.
Between the glasses and the theory I should have guessed Philosophy.

I felt in my coat pocket for my cigarettes. Removing my lighter I confirmed there was still one cig left in the pack.
I was saying how I'd considered Sociology, but ended up an Art major instead. Which was why I now worked in an office.
He'd been in the middle of saying that was cool when my smirk interrupted him. We both laughed.

Inhale. Exhale.
I took my last drag, dropped the butt and watched my foot grind it out. I reached back into my pocket as I stepped to the right towards the door, passing in front of him.
He looked down at it as I handed the cigarette pack to him, saying that there was only one left, but as I had a carton at home...

He looked up. Looked me straight in the eye. Looked at me in utter astonishment.
That, he all but whispered, is a truly generous thing.
Happy Friday, I said, now unable to stop smiling. I hoped he'd have a really lovely weekend.

About a yard away, walking sideways now. He'd gone back to looking at the pack in his hand, but realizing I'd kept walking his head snapped up.
Hope yours is great too. Right in the eyes again.
Nodding thanks, I turned and headed towards the doors.

Neither of us had asked the other's name.
The entire exchange lasted perhaps 7 minutes.
But I walked away with a genuine smile and a warmth in my heart.

Seven minutes. A single cigarette.
A small act - a small generosity - a small wonder.
A moment.
A memory.

Sleepless

Why is it that when I most need sleep my mind races like a wild colt?
What dreams are lost searching the dark?

Dinner: PB&J, an Apple and an Oatmeal Cookie... With a Milk, of course

Is this a grown up meal? It's whole milk, a Kashi cookie and 12 grain bread... Does that make it better or worse? Hmm... Wonder which is which?

The Sub-Tropic Christmas

under starry skies, with full moon overhead
smooth sailing is the forecast for dear old St. Nick's sled

all along the Gulf coast well lit palm trees gently sway
while snuggled in their beds children wait for break of day

although their dreams of snow will surely go unanswered,
a different vision of White Christmas can as yet be captured

for shimmering moonbeams are blanketing every roof
revealing, for those who care to look, all the Heavens' splendid truth

How to Celebrate a Blog's Birthday?

A year ago today I sent my 1st foto to this site. It took a bit more time to get everything set up, and to get into the swing of (almost) daily posting...Still, I am proud of my year @ On-the-Go. I was trying to decide how to show this when I saw the leaf.

Pensive Bus Trip

Alright, first things first...