Who is that Girl in the Photograph?

I have just returned from a trip down “memory lane” with my friend, Kate of CoffeeKatBlog who wrote Things About My Youth.

We sort of grew up during the same era and many of Kate’s memories are mine.

Her funny, delightful post reminded me of a poem I wrote a long time ago about a girl in a photograph.

Who is that girl in the photograph,

the one with the spark of youth

dressed for a prom in a silken gown

with a faraway look of hope?

Who is that girl in the photograph,

the one with the faraway dream,

dressed in her best to celebrate?

I think she may have been me.

I remember that dress in the photograph

and the boy who was just as scared,

that soft starry night of the senior prom,

I remember the night clear and fair.

But who is that girl in the photograph?

She seems someone else I once knew,

the child I was, growing up and out

in a world that was changing too.

And onward time marched in quick-step

When a different boy called her wife

while the glowing girl in the photograph

stayed young and full of life.

The seasons passed and the years ticked on

while the picture stayed the same,

through challenges of work and home

and a son making Mom her name.

Running and running the years went by.

Now a grandma looks to the past

at an image of hope for an unknown life –

the young girl in the photograph.

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Flowers at the Fence

A bit neglected this lovely fence

with flowers in a row recalling

better times.

The gate still stands in silent hope

with flowers in a row awaiting

better times.

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Ring Around the Sun

“….Whatever else you leave undone

Once, ride a wild horse into the sun.”

~from Ride a Wild Horse by Hannah Kahn

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Thinking of the Great Escape

Spectator at the Virginia Horse Center

Did you think the sweet white dog looking out the window of this van was a painting?  I thought so too at first because he was so still.  But then he moved and looked right at me with that sadness in his eyes.  “I’m man’s best friend but they left me here and let the horses out.”

My heart went all the way across the parking lot at the Virginia Horse Center and landed right next to this little fellow.

He looked quite comfortable of course, and well taken care of, but I could see he was planning a great escape. “I’m going to live where dogs are valued the same as horses,” I imagined him saying.  “Will you help me get out of here?  Lemme out already!”

“You figure it out sir, ” I said.  “And when I see you get free, I will drive the getaway car.”

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The Eyes Have It

You do know how much I love you, don’t you?

Rozie

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The Way it Was

It was a dairy.

They say it was the most active dairy in my county.

But that was before I arrived.

Today this lovely building is across the street from a Walmart and a strip mall, a bank, and a home improvement mega store.

The dairy and barn is now a Rent-all resource, mostly for farm equipment and hard-to-find tools.

If you don’t look too closely, you can imagine how it was when it was an active dairy in a truly rural Virginia community.

I have blocked out the traffic of course, and all the evidence of  “progress.”

I am imagining this is the way it was.

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The Kiss

Weekly Photo Challenge – Kiss

Boo, the chocolate lab,  is in love with senior citizen mongrel, Rozie.  He would get closer if he could!

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A Dog’s Expression

“IT’S A DOG’S LIFE ALL RIGHT!”

This is my granddog. He is a Chocolate Lab named Boo.

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Viewpoints Photos

Fencelines

I hit 10,000 steps today!  

I can hardly move now, but smugly sitting,

working at my favorite thing –

Blogging.

Congratulations to me though for camera-walking once again,

and even then

Imagining I was working at my favorite thing –

Blogging!

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Beautiful Dog Fotos?

My dog does not take good pictures.  If she did, I would be writing more Rozie Stories.  She is actually quite beautiful but HATES the little camera thing.  She rarely looks up no matter how I whistle or call her name.  She’s worse than a baby who has to be bribed with lolly pops to get her attention focused.  I make funny faces too and get down on the floor and wave different hands that are not holding the camera.  I even shout sometimes.  Rozie ignores all the histrionics.  And I get so flustered, I can’t focus either.

Rozie Squinting

Rozie’s Body is Too Big for Her Face

Rozie’s Head is Too Big for her Body

She is lovely when not squinting or in the wrong light, with her widow’s peak and big soft brown eyes.   Her body is something else again – maybe a bit too big for her face I think.  At any rate, I cannot seem to get  body and face in the right proportion for a flattering photograph.  I would put her on a diet but the vet says her weight is just fine.   She’s just – well – out of proportion from the photographer’s eye view.  Maybe my favorite fabulous photographer  friends,  Cindy at photosfromtheloonybin and apronhead Lilly could help me with getting the right focus.

I never met a dog who was not photogenic.  Have you?

Rozie will never measure up to Lassie or Rin Tin Tin or even Toto in the Wizard of Oz. Oh, she’s well behaved.  If I call her and she sees the evil camera, she leaves or turns her back so I can get a great rear view.

Most of the time she is sleeping or getting ready to sleep.   You know, you can only take so many pictures of a dazed or sleeping dog.

Rozie’s Dazed Look for the Camera

This morning I was determined to show the world what a beauty Rozie really is.  She’s my old, misshapen, well behaved friend.   I came close.  The light on her face was somewhat flattering and she actually looked at me since I was in the kitchen where the food is.

I love Rozie so much.  I think she is truly beautiful.   She simply does not take good pictures, or maybe she resents the camera and shuns the fishbowl life of a celebrity.

Have you ever heard of an un-photographic dog?

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