The First

Despite the weather and the snow we set out to take photos at the sculpture park. Of course that excursion required a bit of planning— flannel lined jeans, high enough boots to prevent the snow from creeping in, earmuffs, hat, scarf, heavy jacket, a thin pair of gloves, and a pair that are worn over the thin gloves. Then there's the camera and a plastic bag to put it in when you get home so that the camera can acclimate to the warmth.

By the time I dressed I could barely move or move in a side to side motion like a wind-up doll or a first grader dressed for the weather.

Save for my fingertips I was warm. But warmth is a matter of positive thinking. I thought I was warm, therefore I was warm. My fingers did not respond to positive thinking.

Then when I began to shoot I forgot whether taking snow pictures meant I needed more exposure or less exposure. I attempted to think about the snow and the snow's reflections.

Then I began to think of my reflections on this first day of the year. To reflect.

I recalled the list of people who had died this year. The people the newspaper listed in this morning's paper. Most of the names were ones I didn't know—but some I did. Most were well known, luminaries in their field or people that caught our attention.

It's good to stop at the end of the year and the beginning of another year and reflect on our own list—the one that never gets into the paper.