Old Man Oak

Standing proudly in City Park, New Orleans, this old oak is the epitome of perseverance. After surviving the forces of time and nature (most notably a hurricane named Katrina), Old Man Oak has been thoroughly tested and shaped by its environment: all of its branches are facing west. The ancient Chinese sage Lao Zi once said: “What is firmly established cannot be uprooted; what is firmly grasped cannot slip away.” Because of its strong base and foundations, Old Man Oak can bend and yield, but never break. Let your foundations be your unwavering belief in yourself, and nothing can uproot you. Be like the oak, my friend.

“The tree that never had to fight

For sun and sky and air and light,

That stood out in the open plain

And always got its share of rain,

Never became a forest king,

But lived and died a scrubby thing…

Good timber does not grow in ease.
The stronger wind, the tougher trees

The farther sky, the greater the length

The more the storm, the more the strength,

By sun and cold, by rain and snow,

In tree and men good timbers grow...”

–Douglas Mallock

Happy New Year everybody!

On the River

This is a picture about the simple pleasures in life: good company, grilled meats, glistening beer bottles, and the glow of the afternoon sun. With the industrial backdrop, this photograph is reminiscent of Seurat's Bathers at Asnières, where working class people are enjoying a relaxing day by the river. The reflective rays of light can divide even the mighty Mississippi and inject life into its calm waters. Against the clear, cloudless sky, a Rorschach blot is created as the setting sun peers through the nearly symmetrical tree. What does it all mean? Well, the answer lies within you.

Notice that there is no lonely soul in this photograph; everyone is surrounded by friends and loved ones. My favorite part of this picture is the couple sitting by the edge of the water, just right to the grill. Is there any more perfect happiness than two lovers looking longingly into each other's eyes, as the warm sun embraces them?