Hi y'all. Sorry I've been MIA for so long, but it's Summertime and I've been busy....and I've also been lazy, and I admit it.
Anyway, it's almost 5 am and I haven't been asleep yet. Why? Well, something has been eating at me for a few days now and the more I think about it the worse I feel, so I decided to sit here and vent for a little bit. So be warned, it's going to be one of
those post. (If you read this blog very often you know what I mean)
So, there is this person that I've known for a while, and I like this person (I'm going to refer to this person as "friend 1" for this rant, and I'm going to refer to them as her or she, but that doesn't necessarily mean it really is a woman). I had a lot of respect for her, even though I don't always agree with her thoughts or ideas. But something happened here lately that has caused me to loose bunches of respect for her, and actually question whether or not I
really know this person.
Let me sit the situation up for you, it will make it easier to explain that way. We have a good friend in common, actually we have quite a few friends in common but that is neither here nor there. The mutual friend that I'm referring to here is someone that we both love and respect, or at least I
thought both of us respected her. Anyway, the mutual friend
may be in a situation that could get messy, but that's neither here nor there, and I'm not about to explain any farther because it's none of my business, let alone business of anyone who may be reading this.Now, before I go on, let me explain a few things about our mutual friend. She is a kind, loving person who is one of the most empathetic people that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She will go out of her way to help anyone that needs help, be that by feeding them, giving them something they need or simply listening to their problems. She has the biggest, softest heart of anyone I know and it's impossible not to love her if you ever get the privilege of meeting her. She is also one of the toughest people I've ever met. She would face down a rabid bear in order to protect someone (or something) that she cares for. She has defended "friend 1" time and time again.
So, as I was saying our mutual friend is a wonderful person. And "friend 1" is a pretty decent human being as well. And this is where it gets to be a confused mess.
"Friend 1" was talking to yet another mutual friend the other day. (All of us were present and heard what all was being said, so please don't think this is second hand gossip or something.) They were discussing a different situation that involves some people we know. Nothing bad or anything, just personal, private stuff that NO ONE, myself included, have any business prying into. So "friend 1" begins to really, really rag on and on about this other situation. She said some pretty rough stuff and just went on and on.........and on and on....and.....well, you get the idea.
Now, under normal circumstances it wouldn't have bothered me too awful much. I mean, the fact that someone Else's private life was being discussed and they weren't there to defend themselves bothered me, but we all have, from time to time, talked about what someone else is doing or has done in the past. What really got to me was that "friend 1" was saying things like "I've lost a lot of respect for them" and "It's disgusting".........well, quite frankly, what is disgusting is the fact that "friend 1" has done the very same thing that these other people are doing and no one among us has told her that we lost respect for her or that she was disgusting, as a matter of a fact, we have all let her know that we love and respect her despite the fact that she, like all of us, has done thing in the past that the rest of us may not agree with.
It wouldn't have been such a big deal to me except for the fact that the whole thing seemed to be aimed at our mutual friend who was sitting there at the time. She ended up angry and hurt, and quite frankly that pisses me off. Not to mention that it was judgemental and just plain mean.
No one among us, not any of the people I'm talking about nor any of you reading this, have the right to pass judgement on another human being. I know we all do it at some point or another, but that doesn't make it right.
Until a person is actually in a given situation, they have no idea of how they would react or what choices they would make. Even being in the exact same situation, no two people will react the same, their actions and reactions depend on their life experience, their emotional state and their emotional involvement with the other person or persons involved. There is NO way that any of us can actually walk a mile in someone Else's shoes, so there is no way that we can actually say what we would or would not do. And there is no way we can know what is actually going on, we can only assume from what we see and/or hear.
Y'all know what they say about making assumptions right?? If we assume something we are only making an ass out of ourselves. That applies to ALL of us, not just the person that I'm upset with.
Now, I know that the person I'm talking about is reading this, and I'm sorry if I've hurt you or pissed you off, but quite frankly we both know that you aimed a lot of what you said at someone that doesn't deserve to be hurt. You have no idea what is going on and quite frankly it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! If you're pissed at me, well so be it, it's not the first time and probably won't be the last. At least I'm not outing you as far as who you are and what was being discussed, you should be thankful for that. I feel as though you need to apologize to her, and if you would think about it, I believe you'd realize that she deserves your love and understanding. She cares deeply for you and you hurt her and made her feel as though you were judging her. You are not a bad person, you are usually pretty understanding and caring yourself, and I've always respected you for that. I know you wouldn't purposely do or say anything to cause her pain, but people were made to feel that you were talking about them as well. (yes, me too, but it doesn't really matter about that. I can take it, and I know she can too, but that's not the point) Please, just think before you start saying things that can/will cause people that care about you to feel badly, okay?
Alright, enough of that. I know I'm going to catch hell for this, but I feel better and I've not really let any "cats" out of any "bags" so to speak.
Earlier I said I was being lazy, well, that's not quite the truth. I've just had a rough week this week and I've not really done too much that I didn't want to do.
You see, this week is the 10th anniversary of my Mom's passing. She passed away in 2000, just a few days before her birthday. She was laid to rest on a day we should have been celebrating her birth. So this week, when I should have been reaching for the phone to call and wish my Mom a Happy Birthday, I was mourning her loss. It doesn't get easier as time goes by, there are so many times that I catch myself reaching for the phone to call and just talk to her about what is going on in my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren.
Those of you that still have your Mother, please, give her a call today. Go see her and tell her you love her, tell her that you realize how blessed you are to still have her. Give her a hug and a kiss, ask her if there is anything that you can do for her. You never know when you may be the one sitting alone in your house missing your Mom.
I just told y'all about what has been going on with me in order to explain why I said I was lazy. But I haven't just been sitting here doing nothing. I have been working on some pictures. Big surprise, right? LOL Anyway, here are a few of the things I've been doing. Let me know what y'all think.
Bridge at Seneca Rock.
Original photo, no filters.
Bridge at Seneca Rock
Enhanced color and contrast.
Bridge at Seneca Rock.
Black and white, aged.
Bridge at Seneca Rock
Black and white with only bridge in color.
Tintii filter.
Blackwater Falls original.
Blackwater Falls
Enhanced color and contrast.
Blackwater Falls
Watercolor
Oil painting.
Walk bridge at Cedar Creek State Park
Original.
Walk bridge at Cedar Creek State Park.
Enhanced color and contrast.
Walk Bridge at Cedar Creek State Park.
Black and white, soft focus on select parts.
Mills Falls
Original.
Mills Falls
Enhanced color and contrast.
Elk River
Original.
Elk River
Enhanced color and contrast.
(If you really want to see the detail in these pictures, right click and open image. This will give you a larger view which will show the details.)
Anyway, I have a few dozen more that I've worked on this week. I'm learning as I go, so sometimes I'm pretty slow to get the effect that I want, but once I learn how to do it I remember for a very long time! (I also write down the picture number and what I did, complete with settings, so that if I ever want that effect again I can get it rather easily.)
Hopefully one day I'll be able to actually get paid for doing these photos. I really enjoy doing it and I love messing with the effects. I just need a better camera...........but that's for another day.
Y'all take care of yourselves!!
Till next time....TaTa
