The discovery of a long forgotten external hard drive Friday night sent me down a rabbit hole.
It is full of pictures that I don’t even recall making along with some that seem like yesterday. Most were from a period where I was transitioning from film to digital and I was still a reporter so it was a real mixed bag of parades, picnics, scenic places and stuff around the house. My favorites, though were of people who are no longer with us.
One series shows my uncle with some baby raccoons he raised and released. I don’t recall the backstory but their mother was dead and they were too small to fend for themselves. He was careful to not let them become too dependent and to release them when they were big enough.
He was a good man.
And his wife who died just a couple of years after him.
They were both young when they passed and we sure do miss them. His super power was diffusing bad situations with humor and hers was making everyone feel comfortable and wanted no matter what. The world could use more people like them these days.
These discoveries were not only fun they were an important reminder of why we make pictures in the first place. It isn’t to create images of perfection like you see in highly edited pictures on Instagram. It’s to remember the small details, daily life and the important people another day.
Last Friday I hopped in the car for a little socially distanced adventure. The day included a walk around historic downtown Marietta, a visit to a beautiful basilica and a few minutes at Ohio’s smallest church, as well as some country roads driving.
Woodsfield is a quaint small town although I didn’t dawdle here. A storm was moving in and I was eager to start heading back to Marietta. This is the local arts and visitors center.
I loved this covered bridge and spent a few minutes inside, waiting out a downpour.
And this is the site of an old store and great Mail Pouch barn.
Because a pretty barn deserves to be seen! This one is somewhere between Marietta and McConnelsville in Ohio and encourages the sale of Melo Crown Stogies.
