'Giving' is Misnomer

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Giving connotes cost - forfeiting something of value -. money, time, property, - without return. The word giving is a misnomer. Ignored, when we hear the word give, is the value received with the act of giving - often, a value exponentially greater than the value relinquished.

The act of giving is better described by saying, an act of loving!. The word LOVE, and the activity of LOVING is well received by all… I wonder why the word is not used more - loving - more done.

The ‘Love Priorities’ could just as well be called the ‘Giving Priorities’ - the nine Love Priority activities - learning, serving, mentoring, exploring, relating, playing, protecting, contributing and transferring, all are, really, giving activities. Giving is loving - giving results in happiness, fulfillment, purpose. I love it.

Nature Nurtured

I look out our bedroom window and see the old wheelbarrow accumulate snow, white blanketing black dirt pile. I see an image I wish to capture. I pick a zero degree day to catch the fresh snow, dancing with sun and shadow, accenting the nicely weathered assist.

I think how little I give, to grow one hundred huge, beautiful, black walnut trees, that will adorn the field with precious wood and fruit. Nature does the heavy lifting. Nature gives an exponentially greater value back for my little relinquishment. I love it.

Happy Valentine’s day. SCG.

Battered Boat

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After waiting five months for the appointment, my obviously overworked or under scheduled neurologist sits with me for a few minutes. I complain about annoying nerve sensations and light headedness, resulting from my stroke a few years ago. He prescribes Amitriptyline - an antidepressant that works for nerve pain. What a mistake. I say to myself - self - shut up and live with a little inconvenience. The silver lining is, I now have more appreciation for my natural good natured mood!

I discontinued the Amitriptyline after one night (this is the second try with medication. The last medication, Duloxetine, I used for a month - it did little, but make me more tired). The side affects of Amitriptyline, for me, are waking up mad and short tempered, with little or no reprieve from nerve annoyance. I did sleep all night, but frankly I like my three am meditation and/or masturbation.

Battered Boat.

I am a battered boat - all the worst for wear, but colorfully weather worn, with all the glory of age.

Colorful Sorrento

2020 RELOOK

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Limiting my favorite photos of the last decade, to fifty, is a real challenge - I love it though - It is stimulating - the reflection matures my style and stirs my emotions. I presently struggle with which photos I eliminate to include a few I have to include.

For instance, I am altering Drought Art, to make the grade. It is my only image in the favorite fifty of the 2012 drought on Lake Champlain - a very significant event, particularly considering hitting a hundred year high water mark, on the lake, the year before.

Drought Art

2020 is my time to relook at my images from the 60’s to 2010 . I have hundreds, all stored away in slide trays or sleeves containing 2 1/4, 4x5, and 8x10 film. I expect the artistic value to be limited, compared to my favorite fifty of the last decade, but the emotional recall will be considerable, as I treasure my last days with Patty.

I anticipate acquiring a high power scanner to bring the past into the current digital world. It will be interesting to see what comes of it, with the ability of current digital manipulation.

FAVORITE FIFTY

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It’s time to share my favorite images for 2019. You can see the selection at the PHOTOGRAPHY tab above. I started this process of displaying a dozen or so images in 2011. I display 122 images over the nine years. Limiting the images of my favorites is difficult. Now I have made it more difficult by selecting my FAVORITE FIFTY (over the last ten years) and displaying them at the tab above, with the same name. I am determined to maintain just fifty images at this tab, regardless of how long I journey this process. I will only add an image when I am able to eliminate an image, hopefully resulting in a better and better FIFTY.

The process I started a decade ago has greatly benefited me - honing my style, learning by reflecting and selecting, and orderly documenting my journey.

It was a year of shooting fewer days, and yielding as much or more satisfying images as any other year. I give thanks to family for making it possible to have focus time capturing a little beauty in nature.

The favorite of the year is influenced by a first for me - capturing the Milky-Way over the water of Lake Champlain at Button Point.

Good Night My Love

The capture was a year in the making - planning the right time, the right location, the right equipment, and learning night capture techniques. Thanks to Jim Nickelson and Shannon Kalahan, night photography experts, for providing needed direction. After some stumbling and two overnight stays at Basin Harbor, I finally identified Button Point as a perfect location for my capture - water, possible reflection, interesting foreground and the Milky-Way over the Adirondacks.

I am not used to this much work with my imaging - I usually take what nature gives at sunrise or sunset looking at potential with water, trees, horizon. Button Point is in a State Park, a mile walk through the woods from my stay at Basin Harbor Resort. The walk back to my night’s stay through the pitch dark with my new head lamp was an interesting experience - I imaged getting lost in the woods, spending the night searching the right direction.

I call the image Good Night My Love for my love of the wonder of water, settling for the night. And, as I reflect more, for the slow goodbye of Patty, entering the ninth year of the dreadful Alzheimer’s disease.

CHRISTMAS KISS

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CHRISTMAS KISS - a gift received December 25th, 2013, walking Lake Champlain shoreline, with my new 300mm lens. Christmas, a day to reflect on LOVE - unusual tree ice, a wonderful kiss of color on the open water, - a message of love - stop routines and absorb, at least for the day, that '“ALL IS GIFT”. (I remember a mentor 012345)

CHRISTMAS KISS

All I have, receive, is fuel for the wonderful feeling of gratitude. All I give inspires purpose. Giving is the greatest of the Love Priorities - Self-realizing and Connecting are integral to Giving (protecting, contributing, transferring).. There is gift in following our passions in Learning, Serving, Mentoring, Exploring, Relating, Playing.

Merry Christmas 365, and may we all prioritize SCG and realize our unique good.

FORCE of NATURE

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My planning career kept me away from nature. Like most people, I spent the majority of my time indoors. One source suggests 90% of our time is indoors. This is really unfortunate, since nature is nourishing, healing, relaxing - an inexpensive, healthy tonic.

Some say that even viewing images of nature is beneficial to one’s well-being - a benefit I have with my strong interest in contemplative photography. Nature Inspired Imaging is my passion. I am more convinced, than ever, that connecting with nature, and image reflecting, are healthy habits.

Winter Ash

I know each snow flake is different. I don’t inspect, I aspire to accept - uniqueness in all. In fact, I hope to celebrate, and learn from other’s differences. I am not a “Special Snowflake”, a relatively new derogatory term for people who can’t accept opposing opinions, without getting emotionally unwound and offensive.

We have more than enough derogatory terms. I suggest spending some time on the antonyms of our favorite new terms for each other.

Nancy Pelosi says she can’t hate - she’s Catholic, and “Catholics don’t hate” - a little super-human and offensively dualistic. I am Catholic, and know I am not super-human. My friend Francis says “where there is hate, sow love”. I love you Nancy.

A Heavenly Gathering Place

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I am exhibiting eleven, mostly large, images at All Souls Interfaith Gathering (ASIG), It is a wonderful venue on the banks of Lake Champlain, with beautiful views of the Adirondack mountains.. I am very grateful to have this opportunity. Moreover, I am grateful to be introduced to the Vision of ASIG….” We envision a just, peaceful, and loving world, respectful of differences and united by common humanity, in which people live purposeful lives in harmony with one another, other creatures, and the Earth itself.” - I love it!

Nature and the spirit therewith is an integral part of all happenings at ASIG. I share their reverence for nature - particularly water. ASIG is the major sponsor, along with the ECHO center on Burlington Bay, of the Vermont Clean Water Network - which was my fortune of introduction to many water caring organizations.

The exhibition is a representation of images in OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS, The Art and Science of Living with Water. ASIG is helping us raise money to publish the book and spreading inspiration for clean water.

My exhibit experience with ASIG is resulting in a new path for me - one of much meaning. I attended three successive Sunday services at ASIG with a featured presentation on GRATITUDE by Rev. Don Chatfield. The talks were popular podcast worthy - not in play, though, which is unfortunate, because all should hear! I had an exceptional day following the last talk, where I experienced an exhilaration with gratitude of all I saw, touched, heard. I can’t explain it, but it is a feeling I would like often.

I sometimes practice what I learned from POM (Psychology of Mind} - Notice the feeling and do nothing. I am awed by our natural ability to rising to a a more desirable feeling by just noticing what’s going on inside.

I talked to a Board member about “joining” ASIG at the Potluck, following the third GRATITUDE service. He said we don’t have members. I thought that strange, at the time I heard it. After some contemplation, I concluded, how wonderful - no we/they, us/them - a non-dualistic approach of all welcome and part of our practice - some events will turn on and some will not, but all is good. - Being open to differences are Learning experiences. Come or not, you are welcome, whenever.

MEACH COVE - ASIG



NATURE'S TIME

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Patty and I have Health Care Directives. I reread Patty’s directive today - death on my mind, as we start the ninth year of Patty’s diagnosis of Alzheimer's - now advanced!

Both of us choose no extraordinary life sustaining measures. The document refers to breathing and feeding. I believe the idea is not taking extraordinary measures to extent life beyond it’s natural ending.

The state of medical capabilities is unbelievable. I am grateful. It seems medical advances can extend existence forever. I recall Richard going in and out of the hospital every few weeks. The medical world worked to extend his life, finally to the point of Richard making a personal decision to let nature take it’s course - he died in hospice at home.

As Patty approaches a mere 100 pounds I struggle with the idea of the possibility of a feeding tube. I processed my feelings with other care-givers. I emotionally dealt with the idea of starving to death. I believe the directive is a good decision - one of trust in nature. I was reassured that starving to death is not painful and that the medical world is tolerate to removing a feeding tube, even given their oath to sustain life at all costs. God knows if Patty will continue with her poor eating habits. Slowly she continues to lose weight. I was counting calories - I discontinued.

Dealing with an attitude shift of “keeping comfortable from doing what is necessary to “being healthy” hit me hard at Patty’s annual physical last week. Her doctor said to Patty, “you are due for a breast exam.” After saying it, the doctor’s eyes and mine met, without words, agreeing that the exam, given the Alzheimer's, is ludicrous. She (the doctor) quickly moved to suggesting watching the PBS series The Crown, and Victoria. I thanked her indicating that we just finished The Derell’s of Corfu and were looking for the next series to watch.

Yesterday, a call came from the dermatologist - another spot of skin cancer to remove in January - the first removal executed two years ago. Do we continue the visits to the dermatologist? My new mindset says no.

Are steroids an extraordinary measure for Patty? Steroids, magically cured, almost immediately, Patty’s severe immobility from PMR two years ago… and again and again - two subsequent times - carefully adjusting the dose of prednisone recommended by my favorite Rheumatologist. Patty would not have survived without the steroids. Now what, with my new mindset?

My new mindset is to not go off the deep-end when Patty doesn't take her prednisone. I hand her the medication, with a comment on why she needs it, and that’s it, It’s been two days and she sees no reason to take the medication. Maybe it will be different if the immobility returns!

Scars

A Wondrous Challenge - CHANGE

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Every living thing is constantly changing…. even if we can’t see it in real time. It’s amazing really. We look away for a day and the buds are leafing, or the leafs changing color, getting ready to fall and decompose, fertilizing future growth. Humans too - everything changing, constantly, without seeing in real time. Miraculous.

What’s ironic is, we are creatures of routine - we love things to stay the same. Change is often hard to handle. How boring though, life would be if it were ground-hug’s day, everyday? Is change a factor in after-life?

Spring Sprout

Fall Foliage

And then there is Winter - snow in November to April, stealing time from Spring and Fall.

First Sown

These days, I’m inclined to opt for same-o, everyday, southern California 75 degree sunny blue skies - if I had my druthers. That not being the case, I choose to cherish change I experience in weather, or in whatever.

The other day I felt good to learn to deal better with one of Patty’s Alzheimer's changes - Rather than ordering, or suggesting brushing teeth, I said I am going to brush my teeth and she followed. There is dignity in making this decision, like many others, for one self. It is hard for Patty, as it would be for me, to ask for help in brushing teeth, or other basic self-care routines. I learned to deal with Patty’s change by anticipating her needs and doing basic things like dressing and teeth brushing together - laying things out, and she takes it from there. Although she put panties over panties the other day…..as my son would say, TMI.


RARE BOOKS

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I collect photo art coffee table books. I haven’t added to the collection in quite some time. I suppose because I am involved, and partial, to the creation of OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS, The Art and Science of Living with Water.

I stopped by Barnes and Noble to check their stock of Landscape photo art books, in particular water ones. I found no landscape photo art books, not to mention water quality art books. So, I checked the internet - better there - but still rare to find something on point. Is there no demand for water images and info, inspiration, to keep water pristine?

I will continue to collect photo art books and create photo art books beyond OUR BASIN, however, I know that if I want the public at large to purchase a book it needs to be offered digitally. Why not - it’s a great value and affordable by all.

I am really impressed that I am able to purchase Smell the Roses digitally for $2.99 and the resolution of the images are better than the much more expensive hard cover book. I expect that our larger format, higher quality coffee table book, OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS will be in digital format for less than what I pay for a extra hot, double vanilla, decaf, latte with skim milk! Even though I would like all to be excited as I am to get my hands on a Coffee table art book on the beauty of the Lake Champlain basin, I encourage you to at least try, when available, the digital format - you’ll like it.

There is nothing like a large format print though! I will be exhibiting eleven large prints from OUR BASIN during November at All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne with a welcoming reception and reading on November 1st from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.

All proceeds from the sale of images, during the ASIG exhibit will be contributed to Clean Water Advocates, Inc. to help spread the word and inspire to clean water. Hard copies of OUR BASIN will be gifted with any purchase. In addition to the eleven large framed images, there will be forty 17x22 inch sleeved proofs of Lake Champlain basin images at a third discount.

PRESERVE

WATER WONDERMENT - AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE

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Trevien Stangler, an enthusiastic conservationist, and the editor, curator, and one of fifteen writers for OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS, The Art and Science of Living with Water, inspired me to care about clean water, with an article he published in the Burlington Free Press called Thinking like a Watershed.

I had been photographing the beauty of the Lake Champlain basin for years with an eye to share the best. OUR BASIN presents real purpose and possibility to inspire clean water to many, using art and science, in a coffee table book that has pick-up viewing power.

We are in the final stage of publishing OUR BASIN - raising enough money to widely distribute the word, image.

A number of my large, Lake Champlain basin, images will be on exhibit at ALL SOULS INTERFAITH GATHERING place, 291 Boswick Farm Road, Shelburne, Vermont during the month of November, with a welcoming reception on November 1st, 1:30pm to 4pm.

All proceeds from sales of images will be given to Clean Water Advocates, Inc., a 501(c) 3 organization, to help with publishing OUR BASIN. Contributor Edition copies of OUR BASIN will be given to all who purchase an image, including the small (17x22), sleeved, photographer’s proofs. And, images will be for sale at a gratitude discount.

Spring Sprout

Camel's Hump

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Last week Patty and I road tripped to the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area to see Vermont foliage. The foliage was spectacular. We got out of the car once, for a short hike around Silver Lake, and missed the trail turn, ending up never reaching water. The walk was a challenge and missing our destination, frustrating, albeit a wonderful day for a walk in the woods.

After time in our back yard - in and around Camel’s Hump state park - I concluded that the beauty near-by is as great as anywhere in the state, maybe anywhere. Isn’t it odd, that we feel we have to travel a distance to get to beauty, when it is in front of our noses?

As I step back from looking for images for OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS, The Art and Science of Living with Water, I am contemplating a project capturing the beauty of and around Camel’s Hump - a highly touted local attraction.

Huntington Twilight

I no doubt will look for interesting horizons and attractive water while on this next journey - these are my photographic magnets.

The Huntington River, in the image above, is part of the Lake Champlain watershed, the focus of OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS. We are in the final stage of publishing OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS - nearly twenty years of imaging. It’s a great venture and I need your help to get it out to the public, with purpose - clean water. Please write a check to CLEAN WATER ADVOCATES, INC. for $100 or more and receive a Contributor’s edition of the inspiring clean water coffee table book! Remittance address - 60 Wolf Lane, Richmond, Vt 05477.

OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS Fund Raising Exhibit Announcement

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All Souls Interfaith Gathering place advocates for clean water. They were the inspiration for the establishment of the Vermont Clean Water Network, which includes sixty plus water quality enthusiast organizations.

All Souls will be hosting a fund raising exhibit of Large print images from OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS, The Art and Science of Living with Water. during the month of November in their wonderful gathering place on the shores of Lake Champlain, 291 Boswick Farm Road in Shelburne. Here is their link to the event https://www.allsoulsinterfaith.org/artists-show.The authors will be on site the afternoon of November 1st to personally welcome you.

All proceeds from sales of exhibit pieces will be donated to Clean Water Advocates, Inc for publication of OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS.

Extraordinary Light

You sustain me, sustain all that lives. Water – a miraculous wonder. 

 You pleasure me. Water – a treat to be in, on, near – alluring nectar for body, mind, and soul.

 You are my camera’s lover – Water – limitless nature adornment – colors, patterns, forms – so photogenic!

Clean Water Action

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I have taken clean water for granted! Growing up on lakes in Minnesota, using, wasting, free, clean water in the land of plenty seemed natural. I don’t feel guilty, but embarrassed. I know better now. Clean water is not limitless - rationed in areas not as fortunate as Minnesota. Toxic reservoirs from excess phosphorus use are aplenty. And free no more - Water is as expensive as a latte, at airports. City water bills are increasing. Without a change in the trend, I wonder what’s up for our water future?

What little I do to help will not change the trend. I am always impressed, though, by the power of the masses, when we unite to solve a problem. The little bit each plays, with a united front, solves big problems. Clean water issues are rising and catching the attention of many - it’s encouraging.

I am grateful for clean water - I depend on clean water….. for drinking, cleaning, fresh fish, cooking, sailing, skiing, swimming, photographing.… beauty. Water is medicine for the mind, body and spirit.

Good Night My Love

Join me as a Clean Water Advocate. For $100 ($60 tax deduction), receive a Contributors Edition of OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS. Be inspired by more than fifteen water conservation minded people and enjoy my water images (high quality coffee table book) and thoughts. All proceeds will be used to spread the word regarding clean water and for clean water projects. We are shooting for delivery of Contributors Edition by the end of the year. Checks can be mailed to Clean Water Advocates, Inc., 60 Wolf Lane, Richmond, VT., 05477.

Thank you.


Water as Medicine

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Dr. Wallace J Nichols, who wrote the Foreword for our upcoming book, OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS, The Art and Science of Living with Water, often refers to water as medicine. He has a way of reaching people with his message on the positive impact of being on, in, under or near clean water. He has reached millions with his book BLUE MIND, and blue marbles as a gratitude reminder of our earth, and us, as primarily water.

It’s maybe obvious, but drinking clean water can not be taken for granted - it’s life sustaining and not limitless. I was medically treated for dehydration twice - a water solution was the remedy. When I came away from stroke convalescence the professionals suggested I drink a glass of water every waking hour. When I had a kidney stone, water was suggested to prevent more stones.

And, water isn’t always treated so well, mostly inadvertently. I have learned a lot about what I can do to help, from the many people crossing my path while working on OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS. I wish you grow an appreciation of clean water from the many points of view in OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS, and enjoy my accompanying water images and words.

Please consider contributing $100 or more to Clean Water Advocates, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c) organization, and receive a limited contributors edition of OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS. The book’s retail value is $40. Your $60 or more contribution will help spread the word and do clean water projects.

Thank you,

Mike Sipe,

Clean Water Advocates, Inc.

60 Wolf Lane

Richmond, VT. 05477

HEELING

The Wonder of Water

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We are finally there - Our CLEAN WATER ADVOCATES coffee table book, OUR BASIN OF RELATIONS, The Art and Science of Living with Water, is off to the publisher, Green writers Press, for final layout and design, and production of short run Contributors Edition!

Trevien Stanger, an environmental writer, poet, educator and curator of the book’s many varied interesting water articles, has taken the lead role in producing an Indiegogo campaign https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/our-basin-of-relations-a-potent-coffee-table-book?fbclid=IwAR2jkFABGnNA4rfuO1BtIHW_25w1YcvlYONfW4EXpLSpwVsZekz1MS73lwg#/ to raise funds to produce a long run that will be distributed to the general public - regionally, nationally and even internationally.

Even though OUR BASIN revolves around Lake Champlain and it’s many mountain tributaries ie. our basin of relations, it could be anywhere - your basin of relations.

We expect the retail value of OUR BASIN to be $40. We are asking for contributions starting at $100 to receive a copy of the Contributors Edition. See https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/our-basin-of-relations-a-potent-coffee-table-book?fbclid=IwAR2jkFABGnNA4rfuO1BtIHW_25w1YcvlYONfW4EXpLSpwVsZekz1MS73lwg#/ for a list of all the contributors perks, and to make your contribution today.

Contributions are tax deductible for amounts above the retail value of books received. CLEAN WATER ADVOCATES, INC. is a 501(c) non-profit organization. All contributions will be used for the inspirationally educating book or clean water projects. The officers and employees of CLEAN WATER ADVOCATES, INC. are not paid. All articles and images are in-kind contributions by clean water advocates.

Mike and four of Lake Champlain series images, printed and framed large


FIFTY TWO with YOU - IN the MOMENT

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It’s our anniversary - August 25th, 1967 was the original day - Our Lady of Grace, Lafayette Club, Radisson Hotel, followed by Mackinac Island, and family Balsam Lake cabin - first made meal - pizza in a box - an awakening!

Dreams. Dreams fulfilled.

Still dreaming - differently though. Looking more to the present. Love in the now is where it’s at - SMELL THE ROSES says it well (order at www.friesenpress.com/bookstore)

Emmett wakes us at 9am. He helps with the major task of raising the shades. Then… A few drawers open to fill an imaginary food cart - the office chair. Soon that ends. A 750 piece puzzle appears for Bama to help with - the pile of pieces remain. I don’t help with the time sucking task - do you blame me?

I’m more interested in our (my) Sunday routine of CBD infused honey and lemon in chamomile tea and Sunday Morning Show on CBS - watching while taking a spin on the stationary bike. A good feel show and a little aerobic high.

The hike - Early afternoon Patty and I saunter through three of the four loops of trails on our seventeen acres. I love the natural beauty, developing walnut trees, wild flowers and saunter together on perfect day. An especially long walk this special day, probably because we stopped to pick wild flowers for our table, in celebration.

Saunter is a good word for our walk - me letting my light headiness run and Patty with perspective affect from Alzheimer's. - like a hike, for us, on a more rugged path in the Green Mountains. I love it!

Wild flowers from a walk in our park

Later - We enjoyed our traditional diner of Caesar Salad, steak and fish, with Michael, Jessica, Avi, Emmett, and Olive. Chaotic - Patty and Emmett spun the romaine dry, as it mysteriously shrunk to less than needed, Marsett (Home care person) made gluten croutons that I included in the salad, expecting only gluten free experience for Avi - Avi was appreciative that I bought gluten free french bread, though. Olive cries for milk from mom. Too little food for the seven of us, so hot dogs came out to “Hara hachi bu”. I wouldn’t trade the time for a quit five-star meal with Patty, alone, at my favorite place, Nick’s Fish Market.

A toast to our anniversary - What anniversary?

I had learned earlier in the day that mentioning that it was our anniversary touched a cord with Patty, summoning a kiss or happy anniversary, with a moment of memory - long term of course. I used the strategy a number of times during the day - a successful connecting strategy, at least for the moment.

A perfect day. Connecting. Loving, imperfectly.

Fifty two years. Inn at Shelburne Farms


A Digital Deal - The best way to view Richard's trilogy of self-revealing poems

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Three books - I CONFESS, COURAGE AT THREE AM, AND SMELL THE ROSES, contain nearly 150 self-revealing poems by my brother Richard. The poems, drafted between age 80 and death at age 85, are telling of the impact on Richard as a world renown sexually abused advocate, and being the fourth child of the Walter and Betty Sipe family.

I am honored to finish SMELL THE ROSES, in Richard’s absence, adding more Sipe family insight (I am the 8th of 10 children in the Walter and Betty Sipe family) and, more importantly, commentary about the value of the courage to care which Richard exemplified so well. I learn from Richard. We both - believers in the Love Priorities.

Richard noticed my horizon photography and asked me to supply twenty four horizon images for the book. He encouraged me to reflect, as in a memoir, with my captions. He trusted me to finish his trilogy. I am his relief pitcher for the book, and I think he knew it was needed.

Eulogies by Richard’s son Walter, Thomas Doyle, Jeff Anderson, and Reverend Homily by Edward Lambros reprinted in SMELL THE ROSES, clearly express Richard’s courage to care!

It is nice to have hard cover books for the personal library (I have over 100 photo art books) but the best way to buy Richard’s trilogy of books is digitally. I say this partially because the best resolution of my images is with the digital format. Other advantages are: cost is only $3 a book, you can change the font size, mobility, accessibility, immediate delivery, even book marking. order at www.frisenpress.com.

In any case I believe Richard is a model for self-realizing and Reaching the Sky.

Richard Reach the Sky

PARENTING

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Parenting, in a broad view, is loving the vulnerable. It goes beyond children fathering or mothering. It is passionately learning, honorably serving, meaningfully mentoring, adventurously exploring, really relating , joyfully playing, proudly protecting, charitably contributing, and trustingly transferring - all in each, our unique way. Respectably parenting embodies, like little else, all the activities of SCG (Self-Realizing, Connecting, Giving).

I once thought success was having a large family - ten children, like my parents. What was I thinking - the cost, suffering, self abuse! I did eventually learn, though, that “it is in the giving that we receive”. And, caring for others, particularly the young and vulnerable, is a big deal in life.

My brother Richard exemplified parenting the vulnerable, being a renown advocate for the sexually abused by catholic clergy. I won’t be surprised if his legacy includes credit for playing a meaningful role in redirecting the Catholic Institution in a more healthy direction.

His passing will be one year August 8th. I am honored to participate in his final book of self-revealing poems - SMELL THE ROSES, available now, at www.friesenpress.com, coincident with the one year commemoration.

Parenting

Single Pond