Saturday, September 10, 2011

Scavenger Hunt Sunday: Remember



Bokeh
Mush
With all the rain we've had lately, there is no shortage of fungus among us...

Statues
cigar store statue
I was thinking I'd play with this theme a bit - - show a stationary person looking quite "statuesque." But on a trip to Alexandria recently, I saw this head dressed Indian statue standing in front of a smoke shop. Something about it was equally offensive and intriguing. The stoic Native American depicted in a stereotypical style meant to be a carved work of art was posted in the doorway in what I'd hardly deem good taste. And yet...

Flying High
jump girl

Process of Elimination:Exploring with CameraChi 8.10.11 (process of elimination)eliminating youth
Chi, like her Oma, has a thing for hats... so no one was surprised when she stole one of Oma's to wear on a walk today. She's at that age - - that in between youth and young adult stage when her personality is firming and her privacy is paramount. She's developed her own style. She sneaks away consumed in her intimate, personal thoughts. And while she adores the closeness of family, she cherishes her freedom to be alone.

These days I'm torn about writing about her. She's old enough to tell me what cannot be shared and young enough to feel sharp pangs of jealousy when the focus shifts too far away from her. It's easy to write about Ya. And Chi? Well, I'm starting to think she has a right to tell her own story.

Remember: Paper Heart Camera prompt
Today is the anniversary of Nine Eleven. Ten years ago I was sitting in Ike's car. My weekend bag was thrown on the back seat and I was excited to live it up in Lake Tahoe at a science conference. At 22 years old, I believed in the absolute safety of US soil. No one could touch us - - and I had a long family history of servicemen who'd vowed to protect us at all cost.

When the announcer interrupted the song I was happily bouncing to as I belted out off key lyrics and lamented the terrible California drivers, I thought we'd fallen victim to some War of the Worlds radio hoax. I wracked my brain to recall what buildings they were talking about. The Twin Towers - those two silver slivers that touched the sky - were burning. Something had struck them. A bomb? No, a plane. Make that two planes. They were crumbling. Collapsing upon themselves and sending up great billowing clouds of debris. A fog covered the City That Never Sleeps. And people were in panic. I couldn't allow myself to believe what I'd heard. I mumbled incoherently. I insisted I'd go teach my class and head out to cover the conference as planned.

Ike dropped me off at Burger King and wished me a good weekend. I walked into the building where people seemed to operate in a surreal sort of trance. Time had stopped. Though people were placing orders, as did I, no one was talking. There was none of the usual cacophony of public eateries. Every television was on, and from the five or so sets we - the patrons - watched in horror the replay of the Tower's demise. Strangers though we were, we sat huddled in arbitrary groupings oblivious of socioeconomics, heritage, and age. Tears. Uncontrollable sobs. Hugs from anonymous neighbors.

On the T.V., the images appeared in flickers, an endless slideshow. Or was it live footage? My mind fought to process. The Pentagon. Burning. Firemen. People. Smoke. Falling. Jumping. Blue skies now gray. Police. A ticker tape of close captioning.

I have to call my parents. I have to call my family in New York. Who works in the city? Are my parents, brother safe so close to DC? Is San Francisco a target? I dialed numbers on my cell. Dial tone. Beep. Beep. Beep. Busy. Please wait while the subscriber you called is located... I dialed again. The phone line dead. No service...
remember
I remember praying. I remember fear. I remember wonder. I remember innocence. I remember sorrow. I remember strength. I remember brotherhood. I remember unity. I remember vows. I remember healing.
remember too
We will never forget.

21 comments:

Abby said...

All of these pictures are beautiful.

Stasha said...

Yes, remembering and retell. To many generations to come. So nobody ever devices such a terrible attack.
Lovely set Rachelle.

kathy said...

Very nice collection. I love your tryptich of "flying high" photos. Nice action shots.

Kathy

Brianne said...

I love your Remember Photos

kewkew said...

Your Remember shots and story were awesome. It is not something we will ever forget.
I do also love your Flying High shots. That is a beautiful hat she is wearing in Process of Elimination. She looks great in it.

Marla said...

All the shots were fabulous, but I especially loved the remember one. I will never forget.

Marla @ www.blueskiesphotoblog.com

Cedar said...

The flying high set is so fun! Beautiful hat and girl! Touching remember writing and photos.

kamana said...

wow, these are stunning.

Tamar Strauss-Benjamin said...

These are all stunning, Rachelle. I love your flying high and you used my favorite line "fungus among us!" So touching what you wrote about 9/11, too.

Sarah Cass said...

Your story of 9/11 brought to mind my own memories of that day. My thoughts and feelings as they evolved. I was one of those stunned 'worker bees' that stayed at work all day, but didn't do much work. I remember being the one in the back of the bank closest to our only TV. Calling out whenever major news erupted, sharing with coworkers and the handful of customers what was happening as it happened. Thank you for sharing.

Also, your images are beautiful. Wonderful way to capture each prompt.

Tara said...

wow! beautiful! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE your pics of Chi! Stunning! Love the texture!

Deanna said...

Lovely, lovely set for SHS. I can't even chose a favorite, but I do love the hat shots!!

Selena said...

beautiful shots! lovely!

Angie said...

Beautiful shots. I love them all:) I think my favorite is your bokah.

Kat Sloma said...

Lovely, touching words of remembering. Thank you so much for sharing. There was so much to be shocked about in the world that day, and since.

Your images for Process of Elimination are gorgeous! That hat makes the perfect frame, really putting the focus on her face. What a wonderful and tough age. I like how you described it. My son is getting to that same stage, I can see the changes in him. Thank you so much for linking in to Exploring with a Camera, I really enjoyed visiting your blog today!

Michelle said...

Your bokeh mushroom and flying high are great!

Valeria said...

Yes, we will never forget.
Love your process of elimination shot, especially the one with the texture. I am a fan of textures, but still have to learn how to use them.
Great entries again
I hope you have received the file that I sent to you last week :)

Gina said...

Your remember shots just completely move me & your process of elimination- WOW- she is STUNNING!!!!!!

Ashley Sisk said...

What a beautiful set - your collection is so thoughtful and your piece on remembering is beautiful. I love this entire set. Gorgeous work.

Rachelle said...

I did get the beautiful image file - - sending it to the printer tomorrow. Thank you again!

Rachelle said...

and thank you for the awesome tutorial! I love being able to look at things from new perspectives.