Arlo

 

"Don't you imagine the leaves dream now

how comfortable it will be to touch

the earth instead of the nothingness of the air and the endless

freshets of wind? And don't you think the trees, especially those with mossy hollows, are beginning to look for the birds that will come...

six, a dozen... to sleep inside their bodies?

And don't you hear the goldenrod whispering goodbye,

the everlasting being crowned with the first tuffets of snow?

 

The pond stiffens and the white field over which

the fox runs so quickly brings out

it's long blue shadows. The wind wags

its many tails. And in the evening

the piled firewood shifts a little

longing to be on its way." 

 

~Mary Oliver

Song For Autumn

 

Covid-19 Update 

Every single prediction came true, just as I believed it would from the beginning. And I believe predictive models will too. That means it will be perhaps another 200,000 dead by March 1st, and if that does happen, I am not sure if I will be here to see another autumn. And worse, will I lose my darling? I love him. Very much. I'm not going there. It's unimaginable. All I know is, things in the world better change! I hate it, but beginning tomorrow new restrictive measures will be implemented in California, and while I hate that it's necessary at this point, I applaud the move by the governor. Governor Newsom is even considering imposing curfews. Not sure how that will work, but I will be taking my last holiday grocery trip this week, and will be back home, well before dark. Holidays. The word almost sounds obscene. I better do plenty of photographs while I shop, because who knows when I will be able to venture into another store. What is so fucking hard about wearing a mask? How can there not be laws preventing what Donald Trump has done? And is doing? And I haven't even mentioned he sought what his options were for launching a war with Iran! Oops. I just did! Will he plunge the United States into war, just to fuck with Joe Biden? Nah... that doesn't sound like him at all! I wonder if he realizes that once he leaves office, he no longer has access to the bunker?

On the other hand, isn't Arlo adorable? If you're wondering, I turn to poetry and comforting stuff when I am sad and frightened. I still have a small stuffed cat I bought at the San Jose Manetta Airport, when Alan and I flew back east in 1992. Lordy I hate flying in the big planes. So, sometimes I cling to a stuffed animal. Who doesn't? Is there a poem or stuffed bear big enough to handle what's coming? I don't know, but I know Arlo helps me. How do you not smile, when you see that silly face, and his sweater, which doesn't quite fit?

John Hopkins

~Carly

November 17th 2020

Stockton, California

 

Diamonds On The Weeds

 

"Sometimes I am the winter tree,

 and most of these times, a gathering of autumn leaves."

 

~Goitsemang Mvula

 

It looks like tiny diamonds, but what it actually is, is a small weed, with dew from yesterday's fog, glistening on it's fine thread branches. It was a beautiful, no actually, stunning, autumn day. It had just enough clouds, light rain, and fog to make my photographs really nice. I was a very happy person, but it wasn't lost on me that soon I will be doing a lot more photos like this one, as the autumn season officially slips into it's own demise. Seasons come and go, and I only have a little over a month left in this one. I don't hate winter, it has it's place, the only thing that I don't like about it is that the leaves aren't there anymore lift my spirits and warm me inside, but this coming winter already has a bone chilling veil to it, that is intruding on this autumn, as if it carries a grudge for the hope the autumn provided this year. It feels jealous to me. Maybe it's that Trump is refusing to concede the race, and every day he wakes for the sole desire of making life as painful for everyone, but his sycophants and cultists, delivered in his usual wintry posture. 

 

The inauguration is January 20th, will winter make our bare bones ache, or will it be a warm winter sun easing our minds, as the chilly winds blow past us? It's hard not knowing which it will be. There were protesters outside Secretary Of State Clinton's house last night, shouting their usual childish refrain, "lock her up." An old cry, but I fear everlasting. It all makes me so sad. This isn't politics anymore, it's something else, something dark and scary. Something tragic. It makes me depressed for what could come next. I am really brave on Twitter though, counseling others to ignore Cheeto-Hitler, to not give him the attention he seeks.

 

I'm a hypocrite telling them what to do, because I'm terrified too. It just hurts to hear how much pain they are in. The Cult of Trump won't be going away any time soon, but neither will the will of the 78,781,258 who just want to wake up to something other than a school yard bully who pitches mean tweets like spitballs. Maybe ignoring it is unrealistic at this point, but wallowing in it is unhealthy. It's a kind opioid, and the withdrawal will be painful. It's hard to make the decision to let go. It get it. As I have said, I am going to attempt my recovery, from casual political observation, by taking more photographs at ground level, lets see how long that lasts before the vomiting, chills and shakes, force me back into giving a shit.

This Matters.

 

 ~Carly

Stockton, California

November 16th 2020

Autumn In The Mist Morn

 

"I saw old autumn in the misty morn,

Stand shadow less like silence, listening

To silence, for no lonely bird would sing 

into his ear from woods forlorn

Nor lowly hedge nor solitary thorn

Shaking his languid locks all dewy bright

With tangled gossamer that fell by night,

Pearling his coronet of golden corn." 

 

~Thomas Hood 

 

Yesterday was the first truly cold, foggy day of autumn 2020. It lifted my mood, heart and creativity to very happy levels. I did a lot of photos, and I hope to do more later today. I think I might be, happy.

 

~Carly

Stockton California

November 15th 2020

Autumn Can't Heal Everything

  "Everything seems sad this autumn. I wonder if it is a sign of age... 

I have always liked the spring, and this is the first time I have understood the autumn."

 

~Tanizaki Jun'ichiro

With Great Saddness...

 

 This pain doesn't have to happen. The new cases number has been amended to over 160,000 cases diagnosed Friday, November 13th 2020. That number will climb, just as it has every day for at least the past 10 days.

 

 

To Repeat... IT DOES NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN

Wear A Mask

~Carly

Stockton California

November 14th 2020

The Test Of A Man's Character

 

"Nearly all men can stand adversity,

 but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

 

~Abraham Lincoln 

 

Right?

Donald Trump has now lost Arizona. The only states left to call are North Carolina and Georgia. This is only the second time that the state of Arizona has gone for a Democrat, the first being Bill Clinton, in 1996. Before that, you'd have to go all the way back to 1948! And to think, all it took was an out of control pandemic to unseat the worst president, Donald Trump, this nation has ever seen! He's still refusing to concede, although the Republican party does seem to be losing it's patience with his immature insistence that he won the election by "lots." Yes, he said he won by "lots."

 

 Sigh. 

 

~Carly

Stockton, California

November 13th 2020

Art About Town: Sacramento... Mural "At Folsom Prison"

 

"The one red leaf, the last of its clan,

That dances as often as dance it can,

Hanging so light, and hanging so high,

On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky."

 

~Samuel Taylor Coleridge 

 

I have been wanting to photograph this amazing mural, since it was first done in 2018, as part of the Wide Open Walls Mural Festival. Sacramento has a lot of marvelous murals, only a few of which I have posted to this blog, but this one has been a favorite of mine to just enjoy viewing, when I visit. Sometimes the photographer must put the camera down, and enjoy the art. You see, it is located the side of the Marriott's Residence Inn, on L Street, and can be seen for blocks because of it's size. It takes up the entire side of the 15 story hotel! The mural is in honor of the 50th anniversary of the performer's concert at Folsom prison, and the release of Cash's album, At Folsom Prison.

 

 If the artist's style looks familiar, it's because Fairey is also the artist who created the iconic poster, "Hope" for President Barack Obama, for his 2008 presidential campaign. This mural image was based on the original photograph created for the album by photographer, Jim Marshall, in 1968. One of the most fascinating aspects of the mural, is that Fairey has Johnny Cash gazing toward the site of Folsom Prison, which is located about 20 miles northeast of Sacramento. I visited the grounds of Folsom Prison last month, and hoped to be able to visit the Johnny Cash museum, which sits just outside the gates, but it was unfortunately closed for renovations. I will visit there again sometime, I'd like to learn more about the musician's concert at the prison.

 

Sacramento: Mid-Century Beauty... Wesslers, Body And Paint

"Sadness in autumn is an autumn within autumn."

~Mehmet Murat ildan

My search for Mid-Century signage is one of my favorite subjects, because I don't really plan for it, I simply visit older areas of towns, and keep my eyes open. It works in most cities in Northern California, like Stockton and Sacramento, which also tends to be dotted with "old west" architecture, which will never be a style I will be interested in. But I guess, never say never, right? San Francisco has a lot of different architecture styles, which allows my creativity to wander, and I hope to be visiting the city soon, but Oakland is also on my list for 2021 and I'm planning to stop in there much more often than in previous years. There is so much to see in the world, and exploring places I love anyway, with my camera in my hand, is when I am at my happiest.

 

Completely off topic, but I spotted this cool leaf situation the other day, and I thought it would be kinda cool in this post because of the cool lines. Anyway, my first thought was that the tiny branch was lovingly holding the group of leaves, so that the wind wouldn't carry them away. I really like that thought.

~Carly

Stockton, California

November 11th 2020

Sunday's In Sacramento In Autumn

 

"Squeeze your eyes closed, as tight as you can, and think of all your favorite autumns, crisp and perfect, all bound up together like a stack of cards. That is what it is like, the awful, wonderful brightness of Fairly colors. Try to smell the hard, pale wood sending up sharp, green smile into the afternoon. To feel the mellow, golden sun on your skin, more gentle and cozier and more golden than even the light of your favorite reading nook at the close of the day."

 

~Catherynne M. Valente

 

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland

 In A Ship Of Her Own Making 

 

Sacramento, formerly known as the, City Of Trees, is about as beautiful place in Autumn as it gets. I haven't devoted much time to doing my photography there, since moving to Stockton, but this season that might be all different. I can't afford to do the trips into the Sierra like I did on past years, but that's okay, it gives me a chance to get to know Sacramento as well as I had gotten to know San Francisco. It's home now, and I am feeling really good, despite 2020's cruelty. As I have mentioned before it's time to fight back. Do what I need to, to take care of Alan and myself, and resume living. Sacramento is a beautiful place! We were just there a couple days ago, on Sunday, and were delighted to find that it has finally put on it's pallet of the colors of autumn. It's almost impossible to not be happy. I'm pretty sure I will be spending a lot of Sunday's there from now, through winter. 

 

~Carly

Stockton, California

November 8th 2020

 

Purple Weeds

 

"It was one of those days you sometimes get latish in the autumn when the sun beams, the birds toot, and there is a bracing tang in the air that sends the blood beetling briskly through the veins."

 

~PG Wodehouse

 Jeeves And The Old School Chum 

 

Vacation is officially over. I wonder what this next year will bring? I imagine that the next 72 days or so will be as irritating as any other day of the last 4 years, but they have all the potential to be more terrifying as anything we have seen so far from you know who. And by that I mean, Trump. It also has the potential to be absolutely funny beyond belief. That's the problem, there is no way to really anticipate exactly what will happen, all one can do is guess, and play the odds. For instance, what are the odds he will concede the election? Right now... not good! But now what are the odds I am going to keep my focus on my photography, and not be afraid anymore? Ask me the night before the inauguration, Tuesday, January 19th 2021. Circle it on your calendars. That also just happens to be the date of the next mini-break Alan and I are taking. We will have a really nice breakfast, watch the inauguration, grab a nap, and then enjoy the rest of our five days, taking a long deep sigh of relief, and toasting to the return to normal.

 

We will get there, no matter what that big baby Trump says or does.

 

~Carly

Stockton California

November 9th 2020

270 - 214 Marching Toward January

 

"I was drinking in the surroundings: Air so crisp you could snap it with our fingers and greens in ever lush shade unimaginable offset by autumnal flashes of red and yellow."

 

~Wendy Desol

Stork 

 

America has a president, his name is Donald John Trump, but in 72 days, America will have a brand new president, and his name is Joseph R. Biden, and I couldn't be happier! At a little after 9:30 am, Saturday morning, Alan woke me with the good news that Pennsylvania had been called, and so had the election. It was that state that finally put him over the 270 figure, and a little later, Nevada came through with 6 more electoral college votes! As things stand now, Biden is at 290 and Donald Trump is at 214, but Georgia is looking really good! It could all come in before midnight Pacific time, but it's a fingers crossed kinda thing. Biden and Harris gave their first speeches Saturday night, as President and Madam Vice President elect, and of course I sat in front of the screen, hanging on every single word, wishing I could find a place to purchase a Biden Harris rally sign, as I have already put my yard sign on the wall of my newly painted office. Shrug. I'll find one somewhere, and then I will have it for the inauguration next January... and for the wall in my office eventually. I am/was such a politics nerd.

~Carly

Stockton, California

November 8th 2020