My Father Is A Tree

[JAS_Photo]

[Bambi]

awesome shot Jas. I love the comp and the processing. I also see that your snow is gone

[thoughton]

Nice framing but I think you've rotated it too much - it looks like the right edge of the tall building is vertical but everything to the left of it gets progressively more tilted.

[JAS_Photo]

Yesterday, I went on this huge long walk that included Union Cemetery, Reader Rock Garden, The Device To Root Out Evil in Ramsey, and this tree that grows in the parkade at Stampede Casino. My Dad has been much on my mind lately. He is 89, and over the last year has sunk into dementia and partly because of the dementia slipped and fell breaking his hip. Also because of the dementia and his failure to understand what happened to him, he has not cooperated with physiotherapy so has spent his day time hours in a kind of chair or daybed and he has been strapped into because he does not remember he can not walk. Recently, he started to not recognize anyone and the last week or so has been very ill. My sister, in particular has been spending a lot of time by his side. I do not live in the same city but will go up there as well after Easter Sunday. Anyway, my Dad was a 6'2' tall and strong man. He was a boxer in the army which he joined in 1939 when war was declared. He was 17. He later went overseas in 1941. He served in WWII as a rear tank gunner in Begium, France and Holland. A land mine exploding near his tank caused him to progressively lose his hearing.

While out taking photos, I talked with my sister on the phone, and the idea of this old tree, older and stronger than everything around it, representing the life force of the city occurred to me.

Because of all those thoughts - the title. Sometime while photographing the "Device" I accidently switched my camera to jpeg mode, which I did not notice until I just now went back to look at the file. So I guess, I will be going back to rephotograph the tree anyway. Especially now that I found that framing for the city.

[Bambi]

I am so sorry to hear about your Dad Jas. It's very hard to see someone so strong be eaten by such a nasty disease. I like your thinking on this and love the photos of the tree.

[JAS_Photo]

Thanks, Bambi.

[Hillbillygirl]

Very nice shot and love the story with it JAS, right from your heart and into ours. Thoughts with you in these hard times.

[Mad Aussie]

Sorry to hear about your Dad's troubles. We can't even wish him a quick recovery. I just spent the day with my Dad who is ill also ... my thoughts are with you.

[JAS_Photo]

Thanks, HBGirl and M.A. I appreciate it.

[asnow]

I have to admit at first I didn't understand the title, however after reading your story it makes perfect sense. I hope getting out and making lovely pictures like these will give you the strength to get through these difficult times.