Happy New Year!

Happy what-would-have-been-our-42nd-anniversary, LeRoy, love of my life! Your sons and I miss you as we celebrate you and say a heartfelt, "Happy New Year!" to our family and friends.

We met on July 31, 1972; he asked me to marry him on September 24, 1972; we married on December 31, 1972; Lamont was born on September 24, 1975. Leland was born on October 31, 1978. LeRoy succumbed to complications from Crohn's Disease on April 14, 1983. In between all of those dates and because of those dates, our lives intertwined with love and joy and happiness and sadness, but ultimately with love and joy and happiness.

Happy anniversary, honey.

What steps will I take in 2014?

The sign says: Caution. Uneven steps. Slippery when wet. Sounds like life, sometimes.

One key for me is to know when to take hold of the handrail so that I can accomplish my goal, as well as how to gain strength and confidence and skill so that when the opportunity presents itself to take those steps without the handrail, I shall be ready.

Happy New Year, y'all! I took this photo at the Portland Japanese Garden on Sunday, December 15, 2013. See you next year!

Happy New Year!

Click here for a trip to City Daily Photo, transporting you around the world every day.

What better way to celebrate the arrival of 2013 than with these two photos of a talented and brave little girl. Her rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner in front of thousands made my heart sing with hope for the future.

Saturday evening, as one of a very small group of season ticket holders, I got to enter the Rose Garden Arena 30 minutes early and take a seat court side, during the team's shoot around. Nearby the Blazer stunt team worked out. And in the midst of all that activity, this little girl rehearsed the national anthem. She sang beautifully, unperturbed. Once she had finished, lots of people applauded.

 

Just before the basketball game began, from my seat on the front row of the upper bowl, I took this photo with my iPhone as she sang to the crowd. Loud cheering and clapping broke out as she finished that last note. 

Portland's downtown reflects the rising sun in front of gray skies

This might look like an every-day-sort-of-view. As I uploaded it to Flickr, I saw something else entirely. I looked at the roadway curving out of sight and thought about 2011 stretching out in front of us. I looked at the gray sky and thought about the shining buildings which mean there is sunshine around the corner. So, this photo is a metaphor for what I want 2011 to be for all of us, a journey towards whatever comes, counting each moment on the appearance of the sun.