SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
Each fall, as summer has flown by and a slight hint of fall is in the air, I feel a certain urgency coming on –– prodding me to put my little peaked poet's cap on and think about Rolland's and my yearly collaboration. He, in the sanctity of his darkroom, will be perusing his many photos; looking for the perfect scenic shot for the current year's greeting card.
The collaboration began in 2000, when Rolland and I worked together to create our first card –– intended to be our holiday greeting to family and friends. We had previously used a photo of Rolland's and a quotation from someone well known –– such as John Muir, or Edward Abbey.
This year Rolland offered a beautiful
photo of an aspen grove reflected in a pond. I searched for several
days, but was unable to locate a suitable quotation to accompany the
photo. "What the hell," I said, in frustration, "I'll write my own
words. I scribbled down a few lines, and rewrote them in the
calligraphic style I was accustomed to and sent Rolland off to the
printer to have the cards reproduced. They turned out remarkably well,
and received many words of praise from the recipients. Thus began our
ten years of collaboration.
As autumn fades,
winter slowly advances
toward that season
during which we put
aside our daily pursuits ~
and, drawing near to
family and friends,
we renew our hopes for
harmony in the world
jcarlson
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Following the year
2000, a year of relative calm, 2001 will forever be associated with the
disaster of September 11. Rolland and I had been so pleased with the
response to our year 2000 greeting card –– which we chose not to call a
Christmas card –– we hoped to repeat our success. After the tragic
events of 9-11, it seemed doubtful that we could compose a collaborative
card that could in some way reflect the mood of the times. There was
little about which to be joyful; and yet it seemed appropriate to reach
out to friends and loved ones with a simple message of hope, and a
reliance on those things that could see us through the difficult days
ahead. After several days of thought, the words flowed easily.
Let us take refuge in the enduring
Beauty of Nature ... even as we question.
Let us find joy in the love of family;
And the warmth of friendship ... even as we doubt
Let us be comforted by kindness
Let us rekindle our hopes for Peace
Let us seek strength through understanding.
JCarlson - 2001
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