PHC: Cross Country in the Bigger Picture

 

Every month, Kat Sloma hosts a photography practice she calls "photo-heart connection," which encourages photographers to review their month's work and choose the one photo which most touches their heart and speaks to their soul. This month was hard for me because my October SLR memory cards are pretty much full of photographs from cross country meets and my iphone camera roll contained nothing very inspiring.
So, I looked at my running photos again, and I remembered this photo and why I love it so much. It's Clara, looking strong as she enters the chute on her way to the finish line. I remember that she passed two girls in the chute because she was coming in with a hot, fast kick. There's her coach Stephanie on the right (in the orange shirt and sunglasses) yelling that yes, she can catch those girls. And there's her friend Ashley (with the orange shirt and pom poms) cheering her on, excited by just how fast Clara runs. 
And when you look closer, there's more. Ashley is wearing an orange cast because she broke her leg at the very first meet of the season and has not been able to run this year. Yet she shows up at every meet to cheer her teammates on. And next to her is her mother! Also there to cheer the team on, even though her kid isn't even competing. Because the bigger picture of cross country is the team and community and family connections we've made. There's new friends and a strong team who really support each other. 
But for me, there's even more. Last weekend, Clara traveled about 350 miles with her team to southern California to run in a huge invitational meet. I emailed my brothers and sisters who live down there and asked if they wanted to drop by and watch her run (even though I wouldn't be there). And they showed up in force! There were seven of them, with signs saying "Go Clara!" and "HMB XC!" Paul flew down, and his parents went to the meet as well. My one brother who couldn't make it called after the race to see how she did. You see, the bigger picture of cross country for me also includes the fact that all three of my brothers ran cross country in high school (and two in college). They love the sport and were thrilled to go see Clara run in the same invitational they remember competing in when they were (much) younger.
When I look at this photograph of Clara, I see more than a really strong fast competitive runner (although I do see that, too). I see where she fits in the bigger picture, in the web of life which surrounds us all. And that makes my heart happy.
Thank you Kat for sponsoring this wonderful photography practice.

To check out the other photo-heart connections from this month, click on this link.

Look Up//Look Down #43

A quick and funny pair of look up//look down photos this time to symbolize my hectic week: looking up at the soap bubbles during a "Rainbow Wash" car wash and down on some interesting sidewalk graffiti on the way to work.

Sneak Peek from my creative weekend!

I'm enjoying a long, productive weekend. Yesterday, I had a wonderful lunch with an old friend at a tea shoppe with great food (but painfully slow service). It's also a polo/tack shop and has a beautiful garden, so at least it was a pleasant wait. Later in the day, I spent time watching Clara run, using the computer feed set up by the meet, and texting with my brothers and sisters who there watching her in person. She did great and the whole team finished very well.
Creatively, I completed the base pages for my December Daily, 2013 album. I'm only posting a little sneak peek today because I'll reveal the whole thing the weekend of Nov. 8-10 when I participate in the blog hop for Jennifer Grace's Frosty Festivities!

You can read more about the Frosty Festivities free blog event here. You can also enter to win a great paper pack from Glitz Designs, so pop on over and see Jennifer

Today, I'm going to do some computer work with my photographs, so I can order prints and to create some fresh blog posts, plus I'll make a few cards. I'm hoping to squeeze some time out to finish my Learn Something New Everyday/Faces album, but I also have some actual work to do and I'm going to watch a friends' son in a high school play tonight! I'll keep you posted on my progress. What are you up to this weekend?

Off the Clock

It's Thursday afternoon. I just dropped Clara's bags off at the High School and hugged her good-bye before she boarded the bus to Southern California. Her cross country team is making the nine hour drive to compete in a huge cross-country meet tomorrow. As an added bonus, they will visit Disneyland on Saturday (Disneyland!) before heading home on Sunday. Paul left for the airport earlier this morning. He's flying down to watch her run and to visit his family. 
So, I've got a long weekend to myself. And I've got plans . . . work plans, social plans, creative plans.  
And I could get started this afternoon. 
But instead, I change out of my work clothes, pour myself a glass of wine and relax in front of the T.V. I take the dogs out for a walk, enjoying the cool of the early evening.
I'll get lots done this weekend. 
But, for now, I'm off the clock. Doing what I want. And enjoying it immensely.
When was the last time you let yourself go off the clock?

Look Up//Look Down #42: Homecoming

Homecoming is a traditional celebration in American high schools, which takes different forms at different schools. At our high school, the celebration includes a week full of activities that culminates in a Friday night football games at which the Homecoming King and Queen are crowned. Alumni are invited back, but for our school, that's not a major part of the festivities.  The school does get decorated in pumpkins (including along the roof line), and the four classes (freshman, sophomore, junior and senior) compete in a variety of spirit competitions, including a skit, a dance/lip sync, a relay race and a mural that goes up in the gym.  The theme for this year's Homecoming was public service, and each class was assigned a group (freshman were doctors; sophomores were firefighters; juniors were police; and seniors were the armed forces).  I was really happy (and a little surprised) when Clara said that she had gotten a bunch of her friends to sign up with her to do the class mural.
For this week's look up//look down photo pairing, then, two photos from Homecoming 2013: looking up at the pumpkins on the roof line and looking down at the sophomore class mural in progress (the High School mascot is a cougar, in case you're wondering why there's a great big cougar in there!).
And I'm wondering, is Homecoming a tradition where you are? If so, how is it celebrated?

1 Photo, 20 Words: Trucks in a Row

Spied these trucks while walking shelter dogs. 
Their retro feel caught my eye.
If you like them, tell me why.
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1 photo, described in 20 words is a meme started by Abi and a great way to keep my hand in the blogging world while I'm super busy with real life. Thanks Abi!

A Simple Moment: A Changing of the Guard

It was a long photo shoot. We got here right after school and struggled with flat, grey light for the first few small groups. When we finally assembled the whole team together on the bluff, the sun broke through. My friend Becky smiled broadly as we shot the team and then hustled through all the individual runners. We lost light just as we finished the last few buddy shots.
I turned to capture the radar tower overlooking the ocean and empty bluff.
Last year I helped Becky shoot the soccer players on the soccer field. This year, I'm helping her photograph the cross country runners out here on the bluffs.
I stop to contemplate the shift from focusing on Henry's high school experience to Clara's. There's a distinct changing of the guard. And tonight, on this bluff, in the waning light, it's all good.
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To check out other simple moments from October, click on this link.