Not Over Until I Say It's Over

This is probably the longest I've gone without posting an update on this blog. I guess it's just because I haven't been inspired lately. I seem to have lost my muse. I was tired. Weather was bad. The sun got in my eyes. I forgot. There are any number of excuses I can come up with, but that's what they would be - excuses. The truth is I have been cramming every last bit of activity and adventure I can think up into these last fleeting days of summer. Between work and the normal every day requirements of life on this planet, it's been a struggle to fit it all in. It's difficult to concentrate. To focus. To commit to a project and finish it. All summer I have been wanting to get a collection of photographs organized for a show. I really want to do it, but there is something holding me back. I keep bouncing around from one idea or theme to another. One day it's Polaroids, the next it's black and white film. One day it's landscapes, the next it's candid portraits. Several times I've said, "ok, this is it. This will be my project." Then, the sun comes out, it's 80 degrees and some single track trail in the Black Hills beckons me or a two lane blacktop highway calls to me and I'm off.  I'm getting closer, though. As the weather gets cooler and the season begins to change there is less I can do outdoors. Soon I will be forced inside and maybe then I can decide on what variation of a theme I want to work on...and actually do it. Judging from a recent tantrum from Mother Nature it may not be much longer.  I was shocked the other morning when I went into our back yard and was greeted with this scene ...

... our maple leaves prematurely turning red amid the shadows of a cloudy sky that already produced a heavy wet snow and icy rain. Too early for this. Way too early. And I wish people would stop saying that summer is over. I don't want to hear it. The first day of autumn isn't until September 23rd. Summer is not over. It's not over until I say it's over! 

Sorry about that little outburst. It may be that I am in denial. I know winter is coming. I can't just wish it away. All I can do is get the most out of what's left of the nice weather. And that's exactly what I intend to do. Even if it's just doing something totally ridiculous, out of my comfort zone, completely selfish, or something that does not contribute to society in any way. Yeah, that's it. I may be on to something. Let's see where this goes. Anyone want to come along for the ride?

Roger O'Dea    9/13/2014