… make the world go ’round!
I had several good photos of plants and insects from a campus garden this morning, but I checked the weekly theme and today’s mail delivery brought today’s subject.
The pictured note is from Gary, the grandfather of Casey, whose hand is in
my post from several weeks ago. We “crossed paths” at the butterfly house at the Detroit Zoo last month and Clare & Mom (my wife and her mom) talked to Gary as his granddaughter, Casey, and I followed some Common Blue Morphos. (I never did get a good shot of one’s upper wings.) Clare told him that I would be happy to share photos with him if he would provide an email address. Whoosh! Out came a business card.
To make a long story short, Gary said in an email that he wanted to make a memory book for Casey’s special visit to the zoo with her grandpa, so I ordered several prints of butterfly shots I took along with a couple prints of the shot I took of Gary and Casey together and mailed the bunch of them to Gary. I certainly didn’t expect such a heart-warming, hand-written note in reply, but it made my day! But I digress from the theme.
After Gary’s note arrived, I got to thinking about why I take photographs. Then I thought about why we do a lot of the things we do. Isn’t it usually because of others, or for others or to share with others? It’s so often about “people,” isn’t it?
When I posted the photo of Dr. Greg & Suzanne several days ago, I replied to a couple comments that after my emergency appendectomy 11+ years ago, I had a sense that life is about the journey, not the destinations. It’s also about taking the time to meet fellow passengers on the journey. Gary & Casey were two other “passengers” whose path I was fortunate to cross on a special day at the Detroit Zoo on my “journey.”
One of the things I emphasize to the young people I mentor is never-ever underestimate the power of thank-you notes. Thanks, Gary! Again, your note made my day! I am happy to share my love of photography and butterflies with you and Casey!
A year ago:
“With a dash of desperation!”
@ruthmouch Thanks very much, Ruth!
@michelleyoung Thanks, Michelle! There's a song that says "If you can give yourself to someone, then you should." I think that means we should be "out there" and be willing to make these human connections...