Blessings for the New Year!!

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hoshanah, in the Year 5770 began last Friday evening with song and prayers and an openness to reflecting on the year past, asking for forgiveness and then ending with Yom Kippur where we ask to be inscribed in the book of life!! Our wish to all of our friends is a Peaceful, Healthy and Happy New Year filled with contentment, compassion and gratitude for who we are and the gifts we are given.
Saturday afternoon we strolled through Brookside Gardens in MD with sister Lisa, niece Rebecca and friend Elizabeth. Gifts right there! When I go out in the beauty of nature, I go slowly, am still and just watch. What a gift I received that day!! This butterfly flew around me and then landed in a bush right near me and did not move for the longest time except to gently flutter her wings. It gave me pause and lots of opportunities to watch. She was at least 4 inches in diameter and just a special gift. To me, it signified my emergence from the cocoon of what was and the entrance into the world of what could be!! Sharing this with all of my friends who have lived and grown with me is special and I thank you for listening.
If I, as PhotoSchmoozer had not been out walking slowly with my camera, there would have been no way to share...but there was!!

Joy and Lightness in the Garden

The monarch only lays its eggs on milkweed and that is planted in the garden (imported from Delaware years ago with my 'buddy' Jill). This year, as I am out and about and still in the garden that is our gift, I quietly watched the monarchs. Yes, we are gifted with several of them and their yellow and black swallowtail relatives as well.
Their message to me is EMERGE and float gently on the breezes - partake of the sweetness that life offers and know that all is well in the world. Just BELIEVE and be still. Walk softly and just BE!! It's a lesson for PhotoSchmoozer ...and for the world. Peace friends.

DRUMMING FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING

Drumming has been an attraction to me for quite a few years though I have not actively pursued it. Now I can wait no longer. The hubby bought me a conga drum a few years back for my birthday present - purple of course!! Then I began to get a few books and CDs and 'jump' slowly into the water. Then I read a book by Robert Lawrence Friedman - THE HEALING POWER OF THE DRUM - and could wait no longer. I wanted to drum for finding my natural rhythms, building community and bringing more peace and balance into my life.
I called Robert to see where I could attend one of his workshops. When there was no place, I took a GIANT LEAP OF FAITH and asked him what he would charge to come to Pitman. NOW we are READY to meet and greet, play and heal. Sunday October 4 from 1-3, people will come together at the Ground House for a workshop. It's exciting and I know a new path of adventure and discovery for me!! I've lived here for so many years and now am beginning to feel more and more that it is 'my town'. It took PhotoSchmoozer's being out and about to make this happen!! Once more, I have paid attention to my intuition and done what feels right to me!! YEAH Martie the PhotoSchmoozer!!

Morning in Our Garden

Today I needed to go out into the garden and BE STILL. I have been hearing so many stories about people not being kind to one another, not taking the time to listen and try to understand differences (close to home and in the bigger scheme of world affairs) that I knew the garden was the place to offer me the peace and serenity to REALLY appreciate and value the gifts that are all around us IF ONLY we take time to stop and see them. I disovered over 20 varieties of flowers. I paused when I realized this and put life in perspective. This morning, I awoke with some of those same angry feelings and decided to make a collage that would bring me back to the garden and the beauty and simplicity that can be.
It's a lesson to be learned and right in my own back yard. Everyone and Everything has beauty, value and worth. Take the time to see it and honor it and then tell someone else about their value to you. While you are at it, don't forget to stop and appreciate your own value!!

Feasting at the Road Kill Cafe!!

Coming home from my visit with Rita, I was about to turn into the driveway and found that we had an uninvited guest who was in the neighborhood feasting at the 'road kill cafe'! Sad to say, I did not have the camera in the car for immediate photo ops and gratification, but asked him to stay around while I ran in for it! That he did. I was able to sit quietly and watch as he tried to go back out time and again for more feasting in between cars driving by. The neighbor's dog barking chased him away as well, but he did come back a few more times and enjoyed the taste of the rabbit which by this time was totally covered by flies and had quite a pungent odor!! My lesson - never leave home without the camera because you never know who could stop by!!

Becoming ONE and at PEACE!!

Yes, today it is all about ME!

Barbara Martie Wogan Mollenhauer

And you ask why?? Yesterday I spent time with my first friend and neighbor in Pitman, Rita. We talked about past, present and future. The joys of who we are and what we were still 'looking for'. How to take the best and move forward with it. Rita remembered me as Barbara - the persona/name I used for the first 50 years of my life. Then in a change of life moment, well actually not so impulsive, I legally became Martie. I thought that the Barbara person who was not accepted by lots of others because of her enthusiasm, spontaneity, sensitivity and feelings would be more complete as Martie - a softer, more gentle being. For the past 13 years, I have still struggled with some of the same issues. Rita got me to stop and reflect that 'little Barbara' is very much a part of me and so is Martie. It is the name I was born with and now it is time to ACCEPT both of their identities and merge them as one so I can truly love and accept ME and be the person that I have always meant to be. So...the next steps in the journey begin!!

I went out into the world to see what the day would bring, and the synchronicities that always come to me - camera or not - provide such amazement. So Catch Them Doing Something Right applies to me too!! How about that. If we don't start with ourselves, how can we be there for others?!?

I'm So Cute!!

Meet Tamisa Brooks! PhotoSchmoozer did at the Zero to Three Birth to Three Institute in Washington, DC this week and was totally drawn into her spirit, positive energy and of course, her cuteness! Why do I say this? Monday night, the planning staff of the Early Head Start National Resource Center at Zero to Three had a dinner together to celebrate their hard work in planning the event that was to open the following morning. After a wonderful buffet of quality healthy food, Lillian Sugarman, the 'fearless leader' of the group, invited each person to step to the mike and introduce him/herself and share ONE THING about themselves. When Tamisa's turn came, she got up there and said, "I AM CUTE and this summer I intend to be even more cute." When I later introduced myself and shared my 'photoschmoozing' activity, she said, You can do me. So, never pass up an invitation!! Thursday morning, I found Tamisa doing what she does best - organizing and networking and making people feel welcome. She was in charge of the exhibits, the drawings and making people feel great when they were winners! I see her as a greeter, a front person and total cheer!
As we talked, Tamisa wanted to share some of the summer plans for herself and her 9 year old daughter, Chandler. First, let's hear about Chandler. She is off to Patterson,NJ to spend the summer with Auntie Tasha. This woman gathers nieces and nephews and offers them a fascinating summer. She interviews the children to see who they are and where they will fit. She asked Chandler, "Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?" Chandler responded, "I see myself growing. I have a lot of ideas and suggestions of what we can do this summer." Auntie Tasha 'hired' her on the spot to be the manager of the kids! Amazing!!
Then there is Tamisa. She is extremely family oriented and is looking to get married and have more children as part of her life plan but for now "Nothing is going on but the rent!" Her plans for the summer while Chandler is away - first of all to be even more cute, then take time to get to know herself a lot more and to go out and explore more because she is usually a homebody.
WOW - admire these girls and their spirit of living their lives. Just WOW!!

Keeping a Promise

It's blurry, but I promised and The Photo Schmoozer always keeps her promise!! May 16th was another big festival day in Pitman, NJ. This was Earth Day. Yes, we know that it was almost a month late, but Pitman does its own thing and scheduled this to coincide with the Spring Craft Fair. It's all about coordinatioin and making things most interesting to people. After we listened to 'the son' playing with the Jim Six band (read a post below), we went on over to one of our new favorite 'haunts' in town, The Ground House to have our favorite Veggie Pannini and sit outside to watch the people strolling by. As usual for The Photo Schmoozer, I go and talk to someone when I see something that catches my interest. Today was one of the crafters with her flip flops, ankle bracelet and tattoo. Of course, the brightly colored nail polish on the toes did a lot to also catch my interest. When there was a lull in her customers, there I was, flattery and all, asking to take a picture of her 'stuff'. She was thrilled and asked me to write down the name of the blog, which I did. Then a week has gone by and I have neglected to post the picture as promised. It is a bit blurry, but one of the things we learn from being a photographer is that not everything is 'perfect' and sometimes, we have to sit back and appreciate the imperfections in life. This is a way bigger lesson than taking blurry pictures. It is also about being a 'specialist' and thinking that by the title, one has to live up to expectations and 'know everything'. What do you do to relax about that and know that there is always someone or something out there to help you along? Share witih me. Until then, here is the picture.

Steppin' On Out

What a feast for The Photo Schmoozer yesterday at the First Annual Pitman Arts and Music Festival. It's my joy in life to watch, talk to and enjoy the variety of people out an about. Bill and I volunteered to sell tickets, give out the wristbands and generally have FUN!! Why this picture now on this blog?? And what does it have to do with this blog?? It's about the unique individuality of everyone. WE are all the same because we wear some kinds of coverings on our feet - we are all different because of how we choose to express ourselves. There's a funny story to this one though. See, I was sitting at the table so I only saw the top 3/4s of people. This young woman came with her ticket and as I put on her armband, I complemented her on the 'cute' yellow sundress. OK...move on to the next person! Later, I had the opportunity to do a 'walkabout' and my view of the person and 'cute little sundress' took on a totally new view when I saw the complete person. Imagine what it feels like wearing gladiator shoes up the leg!!
Of course, I stopped and chatted them up and asked 'Can I take a picture of those 'cool' shoes"? It's always a compliment to the individual and she was no exception.
So have you been out and about with your camera and noticed what people are doing or look like and the most important part - have you taken the time to stop and tell them what you see and how great they are? If not, DO IT!! It's fun and even more importantly, it MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD!!!

Jim Six and the City Limits with Special Guest Jon Mollenhauer!!

Without a doubt, Saturday May 16, 2009, was a red letter day in Pitman!! See, being a MOM is one of the greatest gifts that has been bestowed on me and raising this spectacular person is something that Bill and I are so proud of. The gift expanded when Jon arrived Wednesday night for a two week Spring visit to Pitman. He always has several focal points to his visit. One is spending time with 'the parents', a second is quality friend/music time with his friend Greg Potter and also their buddy Jim Six playing music for all of us to enjoy. A third is food because Jon writes a blog Eating Out in Tokyo with Jon and he intends to expand his horizons to include Eating Out in Pitman with Jon while he is here. Several of his adventures have already surfaced on his blog http://iitokorone.blogspot.com/. Take a look and enjoy!!

Yesterday was the Spring Craft Show and Earth Day Celebration. Jim Six had arranged to play for the event with a band of his favorite friends/musicians and including Jon, special guest from Japan on the dobro. The weather was perfect and the outdoor venue in Ballard Park was a true celebration. The guys played for more than an hour - many original Jim Six songs - and there were lots of Earth Day prizes for everyone and a giant birthday cake as well. You can see some of the day's food on Jon's blog including the pulled pork sandwiches he and Bill had and the vegetable pannini from Ground House that is my favorite.

The Photo Schmoozer had a grand time 'schmoozing' with people all day long - old friends and some who instantly became new ones.

Just being out and about with friends and family (sister Lisa and niece Rebecca were here too!) brought lots of songs of joy to my heart.

Emerging!!

It's been awhile. Actually I think in some ways, since I started my new job and also had the surgery on my foot - both within a few days of each other, I have withdrawn from acknowledging what in life brings me JOY!! Why is that?? I have had to focus so much on healing and 'doing what the contract says we can and can't do' that I have NOW ALLOWED myself to experience life as it presents itself EVERYDAY!! Then Spring has emerged and the buds have popped up on the trees and on the shoots coming up from the ground and I have had to BE STILL and PAY ATTENTION. Last week, feeling rather low, I picked up my CanonS5IS and headed out to sit down in the dirt and look. I felt a calmness come into my spirit. No, it did not cause a permanent shift, but it did cause me to be IN THE MOMENT and that was wonderful. It focused my mind and offered me so many opportunities to realize that my life is filled with GRATITUDE and GIFTS. I am thankful and say so all the time. I realized that there are two favorite things that bring me joy with the camera:
1. Going to the HEART of the flower. I sit and go within the flower - right to
the center and it feels so right!!
2. Going out and finding people and getting into being THE PHOTO SCHMOOZER.
There are so many people out there with stories to share and I have been
missing some of them - actually a lot of them.
3. Taking pictures of people and their SHOES!! Each person is so unique in
what s/he chooses to wear and share and present to the world.
So first allow me to share my 'going to the heart'. Then I will write another blog and share more.
I promise myself and my readers that I will not be away again for any length of time because it does NOt feel good and I find great joy in sharing with all of you the POSSIBILITIES of what happens all the time.

Silly Sarah

Sarah is only 8 yet with the presence of someone so much older. She is poied and conversatant, adorable yet silly too. This evening she was wearing her very favorite hat and just sitting doing her homework. Well...she wsa supposed to be doing her homework but she was watching as her mom and another guy were working to teach themwelves fractions!! I asked, "Whose homework is this anyway. They clearly said, "Sarah".

While she was waiting for her papers back, I asked Sarah to pose for me and make whatever kinds of faces she chose. Some are her very special smile, some rather goofy but my only request is that she changes faces. That she did. I can't say that I would call them portraits of a young girl, but her story is to be told and here she is. Sarah writes poetry too and a few weeks ago at the Open Mic night at the Bus Stop cafe, she walked right up and read and explained how she did it.
The Photo Schmoozer just watches and waits and then chats before the camera comes out. There has to be some relationship building first and then respectfully, you have to ask permission too. No stealing shots!!

Out of Hibernation...Happy Spring!!

Nothing for months and then two in one day!! It's been a strange past few months. I started a new job in early December and had my foot operation four days later. In my infinite 'wisdom' and with a tad of impatience (I have been told that this is a personality characteristic of mine), I expected healing to happen within WEEKS of the surgery. I called the doctor and they told me it would take the same amount of time to heal as I was wearing the boot. Still going after all this time. Monday I am going to visit and see what is going on. I need some explanation. So with trying to figure out the work, healing the foot, and winter and the ice and cold that came with it, I truly believe I went into some kind of hibernation mode. Top that off with an incredibly limited travel budget and working from home, my office here has been my haven, my retreat, my cave, or whatever else we might want to call it. Then just a few days ago, the temperatures went into the mid 60s, the sun came out with a bright beauty and I stepped out!! I was called to go and see what I could find. I am the Photo Schmoozer after all. So me and my trust Canon SC5IS (I am still waiting for the SX1 to come to the US), just went out to be still and look for signs of Spring.
What SIMPLE TREASURES we discovered together. I am sharing them with you in one of my favorite formats - the collage as story. There were brilliant purple crocus with the deep orange yellow center; some buds on the hydrangea(though we have only had leaves from this plant forever), rose bushes with leaves and of course the potting soil and tools that is for starting the seeds and cultivating the garden. As I just stood still, a crocus bud too revealed itself to me - white with purple lines. It almost ended up beneath my foot!! My foot and I still feel like there is some stagnation within (doing some acupuncture and chinese herbal treatment for this), there is some residual anxiety from all of the hibernation and uncertainness of life and the blossoming that has to come with Spring - the new beginnings and the changes that will bring things to life and their infinite beauty. It's a special time for photographers to just go and be still; see, find beauty in the little things, and continue on the adventure. If you don't look for it, it will often find you.

Age is Irrelevant!!

To the Dump! To the Dump! To the Dump!! Ever hear the advertisement on your local radio station? Well, we did and they were advertising BEDS, the newish NASA ones that forms around your body and then comes back to its original shape. We read reviews and talked to a few friends who had bought the name brand one. They said it was great. So, to the Dump!! What an experience for a shopper, for The Photo Schmoozer and someone who is looking to find just about anything in the way of furniture and bedding. We slowly made our way around - being still, going quietly and just seeing what was there. At the back of the store, we found a double recliner chair and sat to regroup before moving on. After a few minutes, we were approached by a kindly white haired 'older gent' who asked if we had found what we were looking for? We said, not yet and asked him to guide us to the beds. We went on a slow stroll with Jack. Now imagine this. This low to no pressure salesperson has been in the business for 60 years and is now 87 years young! His wife died 12 years back, so he asked why bother just sitting around the house?!? We followed. He found what we wanted and we discussesd options. Jack made clear suggestions and made sure to say, "You don't need to buy new box springs. You could put this on the floor." What a relief and what a savings. We laid down and tried several versions and made our decision. The firm would do! Time to pay and Jack had me typing all of the information into the computer for him. Just easier for each of us. Now, the coolest part. We did NOT need delivery (saved another $100+) because this mattress comes in a box that is 18 inches wide, 12 inches deep and 6 and a half feet tall!! WE could come within the week and put it in our van to go home. That we did the next week. When we got there, we found that there was even more of a sale and we got a $225 credit on the price we were to pay!! Again Jack was there for us. He definitely was thrilled when I asked to take his picture and just showed this Photo Schmoozer that age is irrelevant. Attitude and spirit are what matter. Another sterling example of taking the time to talk and listen and gather stories.