Time And Place And...

 

Photo: © Stan Banos

One of the reasons I got into photography was because I learned the impermanence of things at an early age. Being shuttled between Puerto Rico and New York as a child ingrained in me just how transitory time, place... reality itself could be. Photography seemed the one thing, the best thing that could hold on to some semblance of the present, which quickly transpired to your past- it wasn't the perfect tool to stop the involuntary transitions, but it was a way to hold on to at least certain bits and pieces... a trail of crumbs to hold on to through life's travails. 

My father lived till ninety seven, his mind had left him some years prior, though his body was still sound. It is the most ironic and cruel existence imaginable. I remember trying to hold a conversation with him, and for a short few seconds he held his head just a tad higher, his eyes seemed to clear and I could see he was actually trying to fight the haze that enveloped his entire being- a clear and precise thought was actually forming, struggling to arise and about to be released... and then, just as quickly, the head lowered, the eyes glazed over and diminished, whatever thought transpired dissipated without mention, or memory.

My mother, also now ninety seven is slowly dying in hospice care. She's suffered a debilitating series of strokes; her mind still active and alert, trapped in an immobile, bed ridden body. Perhaps that's the even greater affliction; I don't know, will never know- just genuinely terrified that I'll most likely experience one of those scenarios quite intimately myself. 

My photographs won't matter much then, they won't soothe my aches and my own joyful memories will probably illicit little in those last waning days. Hopefully, others will someday wade through my particular trail of bread crumbs, find a few notes of recognition or disparity relevant to their own existence- It's a short, fleeting existence at that, littered with moments that seem to last an eternity, amidst the countless more that seemingly serve no purpose at all. We try and make sense of all of it, ultimately realizing we're just another life lived, and transpired.

Time Does Pass...

Photo: © Stan B.

Back if only for the moment, and say that because I will have to return shortly to NYC being that my mother was just placed into hospice care. Is what it is- and at 98, not exactly something unexpected... 

Had a coupla hours left for some 'street photography' on my final day there, only problem- it was 97 degrees and people were nowhere to be seen on NY's usually busy, bustling streets. One can just persevere the low nineties (with humidity, which is every bit as much a factor), but when we enter 95+ degree territory- you're talking actual... Pain! In fact, with the heat and humidity, I had no appetite whatsoever first coupla days, great for sweating and losing weight (especially after catching a glimpse of myself in a full view mirror- Yipes!), not so good for gorging on the favorite NY foods you long lust for. Had some great fried Pierogis with the most delicious chocolate egg cream ever at Veselkas, and some delicious potato pizza and gelato at the Chelsea Market. More to say later, but should when this space suddenly goes quiet again- you'll know why...

Even though I have a self imposed no cropping rule- the full frame version of the picture above was driving me bonkers! Loved the subject, and even though he was perfectly centered in the FF image, the open space on the right hand side made it seem completely unbalanced! Really drove me freakin'... bonkers! So, I cropped to a perfect 1:1 (even has a bit of the Diane Arbus Grenade Boy vibe); think it the best solution (short of subject repositioning via AI). I know, I know- standards really going downhill here! 

Anyway, still have a few days of vacation left before I return to the grind (or return to the Big City) and will use said time to edit my No Kings Day photos and the coupla things (literally) I got in NY. Oh, and one more thing... think I've called it a day on my annual pilgrimage to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. An hour to get there, an hour to get back via subway for the honor of baking in the grueling sun for a few hours. Don't get me wrong, the event itself is always fun- but diminishing returns (photographically), and the fact that crowd control/police security gets more and more impossible every year (you have to walk a mile in either direction to avoid barricades just to cross the street to get to the subway entrance to go home) is starting to wear thin on these old bones...

It's Not Just His Taxes He's Hiding...

It's not just his taxes that he won't show- and apparently for good reason! Seems he wears a catheter and has also suffered a stroke- not to mention the persistent rumors of wearing a (#2) diaper. Normally, I wouldn't... give a shit! But it is a tad disingenuous (ie- blatantly hypocritical) that the man who repeatedly attempts to mock and ridicule others for their physical challenges, does everything to hide and deny his! But then, this is coming from the guy with the world's most intriguingly orange make up foundation coupled with a combover the likes of a rapidly melting soft serve cone.

FWIW- Commenters purporting to be medical professionals confirm both the catheter and stroke allegations, and while I don't like delving in rumor... when you purposely deny any semblance of transparency, you deserve every single one and more! 

Did I mention the seven Lolita Express flight logs with his "best friend for a decade?" But I digress...

BattleBot Billionaires!*

Photo: © Stan B.

I'm not great at... predictions, but then, it didn't take a genius to realize that this whirlwind, hotter than hell Bromance would be Fast and Furious! I gave it till the beginning of summer and- WOW!!! This sure is waaay better than any Hollywood Flame Out; Trump threatening to cut off Elon's corporate welfare, and the latter calling for full Trump/Epstein Disclosure- can it possibly get any better?!? I-sure-as-hell... Hope So!!!

*or as one commenter put it: summer's new Alien vs. Predator

Melan(chol)ia!

“I think no one was really proud of this statue, not even the first lady of the USA,” Franja Kranjc 
JURE MAKOVEC/AFP

Apologies for posting this so late after the fact, I really have no excuse other than, as they say- life gets in the way... Of course, there are no words to properly describe a crime as heinous as the following- particularly when it's happened more than once!

That said, there are always the miscreants who will slyly insinuate that the statue does not look like her- I would wholeheartedly disagree. While the first version might have been a bit exaggerated in depicting her warm, endearing, over the top, larger than life personality- I think the second succeeded in capturing her more reserved and stoic side, someone who consistently waves on cue (whenever present) with an affect as flat as the bronzed face adorning her equally lifeless human body. 

I hope she is found soon, it's always great to see our First Lady in whatever part of the world, especially this more true to life representation; that's the thing about great art and great artists, whatever the medium- they can dig down deep, capture and accentuate the inner soul and essence of the person they seek to forever immortalize!

Giving It All Away...

Is there anything, anything right... anywhere?     Photo: © Stan B.

The children of Israel, abused, terrorized, genocided for generations- now the abusers and killers of children en masse.

A madman ghost from the world of czars now amassing troops on bordering countries, and openly attacking and indiscriminately killing the populace of another- while thoughtlessly threatening nuclear Armagedón.

Global climate catastrophe threatens our very existence well into our children's children's future, while we idly stand by no longer even daring mention of its existence, let alone attempting the prevention of its inevitable cataclysmic and generational consequences.

And a gayly painted clown, the most powerful man in our earthly realm, recklessly stumbles about ridding anyone of what he doesn't understand, claiming whatever left for himself while endangering everyone, everywhere with his deceit, treachery and ever metastasizing avarice unbound. Wrapped in a flag, cloaked in the laws of his own choosing, he will not yield to reason, fairness or the morals of god or mankind. 

Gone are the leaders and voices of hope and transcendence; language no longer soothes nor inspires, pictures no longer verify- everything seemingly threatens and confuses, before finally deadening us all to the dangers we can no longer accept, confront, or even understand.