O.K., I admit, this is about as far away as one could get from the history of black basketball. But, since today is Earth Day, I decided to go ahead.
Happy Earth Day!
O.K., I admit, this is about as far away as one could get from the history of black basketball.
But, since today is Earth Day, I decided to go ahead.
These are some personal photographs that I’ve taken over the last couple of years, of flowers that grow on their own in my yard at home.
I took these photos with a Nikon D100, using a 60mm 1:2.8 lens. I guess it’s a side thing I do, just for my own enjoyment.
I’ve enlarged some of these and framed them nicely, then hung them up around the house. People who see them always say they are really great, even though I’m still not really sure what motivates me to do this … so, I just go with it.
Anyway, I hope you like them.
Meanwhile, for me, Earth Day is all about honoring the little things that add up to big things. If you look closely enough at anything, the beauty in it is always revealed. Including the beauty in ourselves and in others.
As in my jigsaw puzzle metaphor yesterday, every piece counts and every piece fits in somehow.
In case you’re interested, you can see more photographs like these in a special photo gallery I posted on Facebook.
Please donate. Your generous tax-deductible donation helps the Black Fives Foundation use this history to teach life lessons relevant today! Thank you!
Don’t forget, Black folk have toiled in the soil throughout history. It connects, my dad loved blooming plants.
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Could agree with your statement “every piece counts and every piece fits in somehow”
we are just a small part in a larger natural system.
Happy earth day, great photos as well
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Claude,
No need to explain the link between hoops and organic holism, feeling the earth and connections we need to have toward it.
Who was more aggressive and competitive in the good sense than Mr John I? But who always recited a poem to make a point (and poets have always been about making a point through the connections they “say” and we otherwise don’t see.)? But then John I. played for the Renaissance, and what was that about but seeing life anew from old and new eyes, as aka his own type of Renaissance Man? You honor Johnny I. and all the past hoops heros well with the fine eye of those photos and see in that beauty the same beauty that is around us all as we, like the olde school athletes who competed hard on the courts and ballfields but were comrades off court, renew or seek on this earth day a renewed comaraderie with old mother earth. As John I. and many of his day taught, if you can’t respect your mother you will be soon lost.
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Claude—loved your photos–perfect for Earth Day—any day for that matter. You’re a real Renaisance Man. All the Best—Ll
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Claude,
These pics are pure poetry.
Perhaps relating to your personal philosophy which The Black Fives are often a vehicle for, it just may be closer than you think. To quote you, above:
“I’m still not really sure what motivates me to do this … so, I just go with it.” Often, we don’t have to know what motivates us, and God knows, thinking about it can make us turn it over and over in our heads, hindering us. So hey, Ready! Fire! Aim!
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I’m glad you are motivated. Here’s my basketball/ plant story. I have a cactus garden and in my back bordering the property full of big, thorny cacti. We also have one of those adjustable hoops which we used to keep in the back. I’m a good shot, especially when no one is around :)
Now that the Bear is larger and suddenly likes to play, he started complaining that everytime his ball went into my plants, my plants were sticking his basketball, which we know is a bad thing. The old me would have said that the plants were there first but thanks to my new appreciation of the value of basketball, we moved the hoop. Now the hoop is out front and he keeps hitting the garage door, but hopefully one day he’ll start making more baskets than his misses. He is certainly more popular now that the hoop is visible!
You keep it interesting for those of us who only have a cursory interest in basketball. Happy Earth Day!
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Dear Claude,
Greetings!
I am so grateful that you shared your exquisite flower photos with me. They are absolutely lovely and truly express the beauty that is inherent in all life. You are a blessing…
Always sending forth love and light…
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You are a multi-talented man, Claude. Greatly enjoyed your photos. What can’t you do?
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Bob, the way you tied that all this together and back again is like a sweet jumper … poetry in motion! Thank you! :-)
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pete, thanks for that valuable reminder! :-)
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Karen, yes, I would say that basketballs and cacti don’t mix well! Good choice! :-)
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