"The restlessness and the longing, like the longing that is in the whistle of a far away train.
Except that the longing isn't really in the whistle... it is in you."
~Meindert DeJong
The Little Cow And The Turtle
Here we are again! Another anniversary of Ellipsis! It continues to amaze me, that I haven't given up on this blog full stop. God knows I have been neglectful of it this year, posting my last entry for Valentine's Day! Giving up in winter, something I don't think I've done before! But, see, I just haven't been feeling it, it being the creative will to take pictures, and share the silly stories of the absurd things that tend to happen in life. My life.
It's no mystery why I've felt so lost, creatively, it's the same thing I have been whining about since 2016, one Donald John Trump. His daily meltdowns, laughable/tragic/scary as fuck "leadership" drive me to a deep, dark, place inside me. I don't know half the time if I'm hiding in there, or lost and can't find my way out, or even if I want to be out.
I am on Twitter daily. I keep in touch with those I love. My friends. The celebrities that keep me sane, with their political views, or creativity, or positive energy. That's fun, and really kinda awesome, because who knew that there would ever come a day, when I could reach for a star, and not just interact, but let them know what their creativity has meant to me!
I missed that chance with John Ritter. Robin Williams. Anthony Bourdain. And countless others! Shrug. I don't know, I think about what I would have said to those who changed my life for the better, but they are stars in the sky now, and all I can do is look up at them, and smile, and hope somehow they know, I wouldn't be who I am, had their creativity not touched my life.
So, it's not like Trump has taken my whole life from me. No, I can't lay that blame on him, but he sure hasn't helped things. It's on me to get back up! Autumn is just around the corner, and I am going to do my Autumn Leaf Series again. People on Twitter seem to enjoy it, so that will help! I hope. I saw a photograph on actor, Treat Williams, Twitter timeline today that took my breath away, and made me long for the excitement of feeling creative again!
Nothing lasts forever, and that includes the Trump era! This week seems especially hopeful regarding a final legal end to this nightmare! I don't want to discuss it here, I will let history do that! I also just want to breathe right now, enjoy the turn of events that may soon lead to the veil being lifted, and the surreal fading away. Hope is a four letter word, and I hate it's guts, but it's a necessary evil, so we, me, can keep getting up, and remembering why I began this blog in the first place... to share my love of what's there, and what isn't there. You know what I mean?
Take that beautiful train. Some look and see a train, I looked and saw history! I saw transition. For some who rode it, hope played a part, as did convenience, and comfort, and maybe even creativity as well. I was also reminded of the creativity of different painters, and how they looked at trains, but saw art. They didn't paint their paintings to look like photographs, they made their paintings to reflect what only they saw, and that's my process too!
I don't take photographs to look like photographs, I take photographs to look like what I see, as opposed to the bare bones of what's really there! I like to think of my photographs as instantaneous paintings! At least I try to. Only the viewer can tell me if I have succeeded! Art is in the hands of those who take the time, to stop and look. Sometimes you have to look inward, and through hopeful eyes at whats in front of you.
Read all about this lovely old train, by visiting the historical landmarks page, of the town of Ione, California.
Just click on "Iron Ivan" above!
PS: Thank you, for sticking with me all these years! There will be more photo entries on Ellipsis, so please check back soon. Autumn is just around the corner, and that means one thing... leaves!
Mood: Grateful
Me :)
