Friday

An expression of my gratitude



I rose early to arrive in Berkeley as we were engulfed by fog that still had not been burned off by the rising sun, in order to cruise specific streets where fliers are regularly posted onto layers of stables and paper remnants. Once I have found a section of a couple of blocks, I park the car and gather the necessary equipment; all of this feels like I am going out on a safari, hunting my objective, the elusive, random ephemeral abstract beauty. Because I am using my friends’ 1:1 ratio macro lens, I am searching for specific abstracts that are a little larger than a few postage stamps, not easily achieved.


Once a possible section has been found, the tripod is set up, the camera positioned. A few more critical observations and calculations are made before three variable exposures are quickly achieved. A few more adjustments to tripod and camera for another angle and the whole process is repeated for the next set of multiple images. This process is repeated several more times until I have squeezed every possible second I have remaining of the early morning before I have to be at my cardiac rehabilitation class.




And as I enter my third month of dealing with a failed open-heart by-pass graft, I reflect upon the past two and the five to six hours I spend each day I attend the program, the progress has been marginal, suffering a few setbacks, leaving me with no clear answers and still too many uncertainties. However, focusing only on the negative means I am allowing the situation control me and though it is still a major distraction, I have been trying to find a balance.


One of the goals of the cardiac program is to be generally more active, especially accomplishing more walking and to achieve this, we were given a pedometer to guide our progress. So today I looked over the numbers I have been recording in my notebook to see that in seven weeks I have covered 181.53 miles (292.144 km), averaging 25.932 (41.734 km) per week, or 3.70 (5.955) a day, with the most in one day being 8.46 miles (13.615 km) when I visited the Pacific coast.
Now to help pass the time during my walks, I have been combining it with photography; especially focusing on the series I began a little more than five years ago. Walking down Ashby, Haste or Dwight , holding my extended tripod with camera securely mounted, inspecting each telephone pole, searching for the visual gem.


As I continue to cope with the disruption to my previous routine and life style, the past two months have felt like being stranded, isolated in a time warp from which there appears to be no escape. I have missed visiting your blogs, to see what you have been up to and leaving a comment, wile sharing with you my own creative events.



Please feel free to download the full size version of
the bookmark page by clicking here to gain access.


As I bring this update to my ‘Leave of Absence’ to a close, I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to those who have sent me letters, cards and emails, checking up on my progress, sending me encouragements and wishing me well, I also desire to say thank you to those who have stopped by either of my blogs, just to see if there was anything new.
I would also like to say thank you to those who have decided to become a follower during my absence and in due time I shall also return the honour and list your blog at my blog roll and resource blog, The DIRECTORY.


I would like to reciprocate by sharing with you a few images of my excursions that I have designed into a page of bookmarks that you can download in full size here, then print out on card stock. You then have the option to punch a hole at the top for a string or ribbon.
If you would like to check out my other version of the books, please visit Four Seasons in a Life.



Wishing my American friends a wonderful and safe forth of July.




I thank you for your visit
and comment . . .

Egmont



30 comments:

-Don said...

Egmont, your presence has been missed here in the blogosphere. Thank you for this update. I pray a steady recovery for you. Until the recovery is complete I pray peace upon your mind, body and soul.

These photographs and bookmarks you have shared today are TREMENDOUS! I am blown away by everything about them. I cannot begin to explain how impacted I am be these. The best I can do is say that somehow you have captured the essence of decades of lives, hopes and dreams in these compositions - some long forgotten... Wow!

-Don

nancy neva gagliano said...

oh, such gifts you give. thank you. and your deepening thoughts are provactive for all of us. a little daily savoring of life's goodnesses ~~~~~ or a lot.
thank you for this post and the update. all the best! in the continued process of recovery..

Caterina Giglio said...

Dear Egmont,

it is so nice to have you back in bloglandia. I am saddened to learn that it has not been as successful a recovery as you had hoped for. but perhaps it is truly a matter of time and your attitude seems so positive and hopeful that I am sure the outcome will be the same.
you have been missed. I am hoping your 4th is a wonderful weekend.
blessings,
caterina

LemonyRenee' said...

So wonderful to hear from you, Egmont! I have missed you. I hear melancholy in your words, but remain hopeful that things will brighten and improve for you. Wonderful accomplishment, all that walking.

Thank you for the wonderful images. I will print and treasure them. I keep the orchid art right here above my monitor and gaze upon it several times each day -- and smile.

Thank you, dear Egmont.

Awaiting your next update,
Renee'

Unknown said...

oh yes, I was missing you, I wish you a nice, safety July and a good time, take care of you !
Liebe Grüße von Kathrin

ooglebloops said...

You were definitely missed!! Blog surfing and posting are definitely time consuming - and your time is better spent in getting your health back where it should be!!! Walking with a camera is wonderful! I love your photos - I have often looked at poles with remnants of past messages and piled on staples- glad I am not the only one to see the art in it!

Kelly M. said...

Despite all that is happening to you, you think of us? -- a generous spirit, indeed. The bookmarks are great -- always been a sucker for a good bookmark! now I have to find just the right book to initiate it -- take care, Egmont.

~*~Patty said...

Dear Egmont ~ I came to you today quite by chance, really I did ... not knowing that you'd updated your blog (WordPress does not have that feature) Imagine my surprise to see that you'd posted today!

Prayers and healing energy continue to beam your way!

Take good care and thank you for your ever kind and generous ways. You are a very special creative soul!

Be Well and Brightest of Blessings Always!
oxo

Sam Liu said...

Egmont,

Oh how I have missed your wonderful words! I think it's brilliant that you are able to maintain the practice of your beautiful art alongside your medical problems. I sincerely wish you all the best, and I hope everything goes well for in the coming weeks. Have a great weekend :)

Carolyn Abrams said...

Egmont, so nice to hear from you and your generous nature!

alaine@éclectique said...

So glad you're back but equally sad that your op wasn't successful. I admire your determination with your walking regime - I wish I could find a pedometer that worked! - it is the best thing to do, staying active.

Your photography is amazing and thank you for the bookmarks; I'll have them next to my favourite armchair.

It is so good for the soul to come in here in the morning and hear Horowitz playing.

Best wishes, Egmont. xa

alaine@éclectique said...

Oh, by the way, your Directory page is a work of art itself! Wonderful!

Dan Kent said...

The images are so wonderful! And, to me, if you are walking with tripod and camera you are doing double benefit - you have the benefit of doing what you love along with the exercise which I expect you hardly think about because of the photography and search for images.

Life has so many turns - I tend to think of it in terms of chapters, some longer, some shorter, that to view this new chapter as a disruption to your previous one seems a bit unfair. It is new, certainly you are in a situation you did not want, yet you have found yet another way to continue your creative endeavors.

I am younger than you, so for me it is different. But my youngest son, who is autistic, will be going to a high school in the fall that is a bit of a distance away. I will have to get him there by 7:20 am - and I am a night person! My entire morning and evening routine is about to be disrupted. But I will adapt, and find a way to continue to be creative in the new schedule, as you have.

Thanks, as always, for sharing your experiences. I am downloading your bookmarks.

Dan Kent said...

Hmmm..re-read my comment - it's late, I wasn't clear, and I don't want you to misunderstand. I did not mean to compare what you must be going through with your heart troubles to my insignificant change of schedule, except as an example of change. I feel for you and how difficult and depressing this must be. But I applaud how you have adapted and are using your creativity in this time of your life and think that maybe you can concentrate on this continuity rather than the disruption. I stop here, lest I dig a deeper hole. ;)

Patrinas Pencil said...

Egmont,
So nice to see you here tonight. What a surprise! I have been missing too :) but just checked my place and saw your update - I have missed you. Been praying for you. Please know that I will continue to pray God's favor on you - you are such a sweet spirit! Such a blessing to so many!

Take care and may God bless you mighty.

Patrina <")>><

Ange said...

Dear Egmont,
It seems that the day I finally sit down and say, "NOW" to getting back to blogging - you fortuitously arrive at the same time. A sign I hope that it will be smooth sailing for you from now on, and that I have finally ironed out all the kinks in my life that have kept me from the cyber world.
It is good to read you again.
Like coming home.
xxx

SKIZO said...

Fabulous
Work

good
sources
of
Inspiration

Patrinas Pencil said...

Dear Egmont
How your words on the bridge today have encouraged me and uplifted my spirit. I needed your kind words this morning! thank you. I needed to hear that your prayers - your kind thots are with me. I just can't tell you how much it meant to me. You were an absolute 'God send' at a very trying moment. I am so blessed to call you FRIEND.

Please know that as you pray for me and my Dad - I too pray for you. Life is hard. Sometimes we have to search for JOY. But it is there. And I intend to strive to always live my life intentionally and with purpose because the Joy of the Lord is my strength! He is my Shepherd...I have everything I need.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you - be gracious unto you and heal thee, body mind and spirit. May He fill you with His unending Peace and anoint your heart with an overflowing abundance of JOY!

Lord show your unending FAVOR to dear Egmont - Heal his heart! Anoint him with 'new life'... that he might sing praises to you, O Lord, our King and our redeemer. In Jesus name, AMEN

Go's wonderful amazing blessings be upon you and all around you...

Patrina <")>><
watchman on the wall
expecting His return!

The Artist Within Us said...

A message to all those who have left a comment.

Please forgive me for not having responded to you individually, but I shall over the next several days.

Egmont

alaine@éclectique said...

Egmont, had to come back to say that my husband loved the bookmarks and ordered 3 more! I printed out the pretty Hydrangeas on your other blog for myself and a friend! Thank you and best wishes.

Seth said...

So very nice to be able to have a short visit with you here. I am sorry to hear that rehab has been challenging...I suppose it usually is. But your postive energy still seems to shine through and your generosity in sharing these bookmarks is so very much appreciated. Wishing you well as you journey forward.

Eva said...

Dear Egmont, I have been neglectful about visiting my friends blogs.I love your macro abstract collages! You have a marvelous eye. I am so sorry to hear that your progress has not been what you hoped for, but I am impressed with the amount of activity you are achieving.I will download your book marks and think healing thoughts for you each time I see them. Thank you!

rivergardenstudio said...

Dear Egmont, I have realized that though I had left a comment on your other blog, I did not here, and wanted to say that I love your abstract art as much as your photography and I hope you are well and happy and will be back soon... roxanne

Kim Palmer said...

I have had my own leave of absence in recent times, although for family reasons rather than health. I just popped in to catch up. Hope you are gaining some health back again Egmont. It's nice to see you are using your rehabilitation time in creative pursuits too!

Unknown said...

Dear Egmont,
Knowing you and your work (through blogging) has enriched my life. It's my sincerest hope that you'll be restored to good health. Thank you for sharing yourself with us!

Patrinas Pencil said...

Just to say - that you are missed. praying that you are becoming stronger in your health. May you rise to see the 'sonrise' this Monday morning - with healing in His wings.

Take care gentle one
Patrina <")>><

isabel gutiérrez said...

Hola Egmont, muchas gracias por tu correo. Elegí tus páginas por lo sorpresivo y creativo de convertir en Administrador de un blog a un gato, y sobre todo si es ya un compañero de años. Yo tengo cuatro gatos.

Me gustaron también tus obras artísticas, y por ello decidí incluir tus blogs en mi lista de preferidos.

También he visto que has tenido problemas de salud, espero que estés mejor.

Un saludo desde España y no dudes que seguiré visitando tus blogs. Hasta otra, muchos abrazos, Isabel

elena nuez said...

I just found a treasure!
you're so talented!
thanks for sharing your beautiful art!
greetings from Spain

Bill said...

It's amazing how beautiful decay can be!

William Hall said...

I am very excited to have found your blog and am especially inspired by your telephone series. I am reminded to be grateful for good health and offer positive thoughts for the future.