Here’s another shot of my grandfather, with whom we lived, and who helped raise us.
He emigrated from Poland circa 1906, after (as the story goes) his commanding officer in the Austrian army suggested it was a good time to do so, as all hell was about to break loose on the land. He learned the English language early on, and became an American citizen in 1920. He loved telling stories; my older sister remembers hours upon hours of tales that were uniquely his, usually weaving in themes from the Old Testament, the politics of old Poland, and the natural world.
He was a community/union organizer, and an accomplished gardener and mushroom forager. I remember many long walks in the forest behind our home foraging for a certain type of Russula mushroom (called “Pravdzive” in Polish), which would be dried, and given to friends and family to use as a base for holiday soups at Christmas and Easter.
He had a strong faith but also a big love for his family and friends, and he seemed to be as comfortable in social situations as in the out of doors. I never did get a chance to thank him for all that he gave me, particularly the knowledge and presence that he so freely offered, every day of his life.
And on a side note, it might be time to once again read “Report To Greco”, the wonderful memoir of Nikos Kazanzakis (Greco being his grandfather).
Probably from 1970 or so, a couple of years before this wonderful man, Andrew Wasik, passed away. Photo probably taken by either my younger brother Jim, or oldest brother Stan.
An end of the day photo taken in the early 80’s, when I spent six weeks working at Shelburne Orchards in MA. It looks like we were picking Red Delicious at the time, though MacIntosh was probably the largest variety by volume. Some of the tools of the trade are at the top: the kidney-shaped picking bag, and a big jug of water, replenished regularly through the day, particularly when it was warm and sunny.
The photo was probably taken with the aforementioned (9/12/18 post) Sigma 18-200mm telephoto lens – see the curved side of the bin? It was truly wonderful but hard work, and in retrospect, i can say the wages were but the icing on the cake.
Taken circa 1990 on 35mm film with one of my favorite zoom lens, and the only one I could afford at the time, a Sigma 18-200mm. It finally bit the dust at the start of a wedding shoot, resulting in photos (all b+w) with some strange focus issues that the bride and groom nonetheless admired, “art shots” in the vernacular. One I loved was a portrait of the laughing bride in the middle of a row of kids, all equidistant from the camera, with some out of focus. Hopefully the images have retained their magic over the years.
Our friend Peter S had “First Leaf” in a prominent location in his home for the longest time, especially rewarding for me given his abilities and reputation in the field of interior design.
Taken over a quarter of a century ago, on slide film. Steve (third from left) and Laurie lived in a shack right on that stream in the background, and welcomed many a soul there for some serious R and R.
Probably taken on Ektachrome film, in the Whipple Hollow section of town when I was 18 years old. This is one image that has stood the test of time for me; I’ve thought of it often over the years. I also thought it lost – forever consigned to memory – until it showed up in the archives one day this past winter. It remains compelling, and certainly equal to what I remembered (which is not always the case).
Here’s another shot of my grandfather, with whom we lived, and who helped raise us.
