Then, today I was at Redleg's Rides blog and he writes about and shares his photographs taken during the "Golden Hour." His mention of the Golden Hour instantly got me to thinking about my morning out and my success at catching the sunrise, another brief and important window of time when the light is sweet and pure and the color that shines down and out from it, is warm and glowing and beautiful. One is rewarded whenever the magic of a sunrise is witnessed. 
Photography is light and light-play is always an amazing thing to behold and try to freeze for later memories.
This has been a sad news day that has made me remember.
I grew up with Farrah Fawcett and "Charlie's Angels." She had a light bulb smile and seemed to love Ryan O'Neal forever and a day, in ways that he seemed overwhelmed by and only later seemed to easily return. Her death was expected. Still, it was sad. Then I heard about Michael Jackson's demise this afternoon. What a brilliant, gifted but also tragic figure. It's a sad story.
I loved the Jackson 5. I remember them dancing up a storm on the Ed Sullivan Show. I bought their records and sang their songs. Something changed for me, though, when the group disbanned and he took on a solo career. Still, I'd stop to watch his magical feet dance and hear his silky voice deliver his latest hit--songs he wrote. "Thriller" is an album of genius. Listen to "Billie Jean." Something tragic seems to happens to many uber-celebrities, particularly those who step into fame and fortune early. Eventually, he just seemed to me to be stunted mentally/emotionally and never grew up.
To me, his physical metamorphosis and increasingly strange and controversial personal life began to overshadow his genius and I simply lost interest--that is, until I'd hear an old Jackson 5 tune on the radio and I'd remember the teenage memories and the prodigy from Gary, Indiana.
On my ride this past Sunday, a Jackson 5 tune came on the XM radio, it was, "I Want You Back," and I sang along to the top of my lungs inside my helmet. I remember thinking how I should download some of the J5 on my Ipod because those old tunes would make great motorcycle riding music. I will do that...
Remembering memories...
4 comments:
Those are beautiful photographs. a good reminder that photographs are essentially a capture of light. the starting of my blog has inspired me to become a better photographer, and I am not in your league.
Isn't it funnny how the lyrics from those old songs instantly come back to you in surprising moments. I wasn't a big fan of Michael Jackson, but some of his music is spectacular and will stay in my head forever. And Farrah was undeniably a very beautiful woman. It may be a bit sexist to say this, but as a teeneger I remember some of my college chums had that poster of her in their dorm rooms.
Yet there was a sort of kind innocence to her that was just as appealing as her beauty.
Glad you posted the photos. The sunrise is a reminder to me that life will always continue on in spite of losses that are sufffered.
Jim, you are indeed kind. I wish my photography major improvement. But thank you for your encouraging words. I have also admired your blog and photos! and how you've progressed with being a presence online.
You're right about music--whether we are fans or not, we are sometimes touched and changed by it. There is a song by Randy Newman "Short People," that I have so many dislikes about but if I hear that song, I am humming it for the rest of the day--I'm embarrassed to say.
Hey, Farrah changed (and educated) a lot of young boys and more than a few females wanted to be her! I just thought she had tons of spunk and I so enjoyed her kicking the keister(sp?) of bad men on the sliver screen! I hear that her poster is now garnering huge bucks on ebay! Thanks, Jim.
Dear Sharon:
Taking your cue, I got up at 4:30am this morning tio watch the sun rise. First discernable light was less than a half-hour later. I stood in the garden, bare feet on the cool slate, and said, "Rise sun, and bring light to my soul."
As I chanted this, I looked upward. My eye socket made a nice bowl for the first of several thousand rain drops which were unleashed from the heavens by my words.
I ran back to the house, only to find the door locked and the two dogs looking at me through the glass. I swear they were laughing. I was too. Leslie opened the door ten minutes later and asked if I was some kind of an idiot. What can I say? The evidence is in.
I am leavinmg at dawn for my ride to Tennessee, in 11 days. Again taking your cue, I am going to stop at various post officesto get my stamps enroute.
Fondest regards,
Jack "r" Toad
Twisted Roads
Ok, Leslie must be a saint and patient! I wish she had taken a picture of you in the rain and yes, I do think dogs laugh at us.
Jack, don't stop at PO and ask for stamps, they will think you are nuts. The stamps I collect are collected only at National Vistors centers and you must have a National Parks Passport book in which to "ink" stamp your booklet. I didn't have the heart to let you stop at a post office and inquire only to have them toss you out or sell you some collector's stamp, which I guess could be interesting too.
Perhaps you can get work as a rainmaker?
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