Until today I have photographed three Bald Eagles, one was at the Barnstable Faire as part of an exhibit in the 90’s, the second was at a zoo, the third was in a tree really far off in the distance, but I was excited because it was free and in the wild… I was sad because it was in Canada (nothing against Canada, just it’s an Eagle, and it was not in the US). Then today, I was driving to the dump – what we old people call the recycling center – and there it was, maybe 200 feet up just circling. I pulled over and happen to have the camera on the front seat, I had just shot a 5K, the Shamrock Shuffle in Medway (click to see those photos), I am sure I was not even all the way over on the side of the road. Couple of shots and it flew off. I have been told it nests in the town, I look forward to seeing it again with the longer lens.
tr/trp
Today is my 16,437th day on the planet, save your fingers, I will do the math, it’s my 45th birthday. I enjoy birthdays, for the simple fact that they are a privilege, not a right and I hope to collect them all. Now this one seemed to come with more work than others, but I feel better than I have at the last few. Lighter physically and mentally, less limpy, more focused, more entertained, less serious, but on the other side of the coin, I feel more mortal than ever, more aware of time, and even more cautious of others. Since my last trip around the sun, I added a dog who is nothing more than a smile with fur, I’ve watched both my kids take the reins of their future and become the adults I had hoped, and seen my business grow. We all have our stories, all tied to the same mortality, each with a birthday that marks it off in smaller chunks. I celebrate my days between with this project. It is part of my process and how I like to contribute. It helps keep me moving forward to the next. Like I said I like birthdays, and I have many plans between this one and the next orbit. 45 will take me to Cuba, add a huge new chapter in my business (that will be announced very soon), I will see my son graduate High School, completing my families residency at Medway High and many more milestones I am not even aware of, all I can promise they will be caught on camera. Happy Birthday to us all, no matter your day.
