Awoke early, which is becoming way to common, 3:00 is just too early. Now at Bindles with one of their mochas that had my name on it. Sunrise was beautiful on my drive over here. Expecting to reach 70 degrees again today then back to cold and wet days. Could even see below freezing night temperatures.
Have been working on a couple of projects with my photography and my writing. One is a new photo book with a theme on Colorado horizons. I believe I’ve mentioned how many of my images are taken east of the mountains rather than in the mountains. I seem more attracted to wide open scenes of the eastern plains. So, I’ve begun a book with just horizons and will add some verbiage about my thoughts on horizons. This book is personal project for myself so one copy may be all I have printed.
The second project is also a book. This one is my recollection of the stories and experiences in my life to pass along to my children and grandchildren. The first page will have facts about me, dates and names and places. But, the rest of the book will be the facts and my fading memories of events blended into their own story. I want my children and grandchildren to read these stories of what I remember of my youth, how my parents raised me, those events that have made me who I am, how those events affected how I see and think of this world. I’m also including a few old photos of the past. I guess you can call it a legacy, an autobiography. Finding working on both of them fun and thus why I’m waking up throughout the might to write stuff down.
13 Comments
Earl
Both sound like wonderful projects Monte. I especially like the idea of the second project… the life stories and experiences. I can think of my own parents and grandparents and realize how much I would have enjoyed and charished something of that sort from them. Good luck on them both! 🙂
I have spells where I wake up consistently early, 4am or earlier. I’ve never been able to identify the ‘why’ behind those ‘early-bird periods.’
Monte Stevens
I would love to sit with my grandparents listen to stories of the past. which is one reason for this project. It has been a good exercise to reflect back and remember. I will be interested in how it turns out. I hope they learn more about who I am with it.
Earl
…and I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t gain additional clarity about who ‘Monte’ is through this creative and thoughtful process. Win-Win 🙂
Mark
Good for you Monte! Those are definitely the types of projects that can keep your brain churning enough to prevent some sleep.
I look forward to reading about your progress on both. Hopefully you will include some photos of the many handwritten journal pages you have with some of your favorite pens! 🙂
Monte Stevens
The autobiography book will have old photos and dispersed among them will be images of my pens and journals, similar to the image above. I really do not know what either book will be like when they are done or what they will morph into.
Tom Dills
These are both wonderful projects, Monte and I think they suit you well. I know from firsthand experience how much you love the plains and the skies above them. I return often to a few of my own photos from our visit there and look forward to an opportunity to return. The idea of leaving behind some kind of history is a good one. We all tend to depart too soon, as did those before us, and there is always a wish to be able to ask one more question or tell one more story. I can see that as something very meaningful to you and to your family.
Stay safe out there, I see that winter is returning in force for (hopefully) one last fling!
Monte Stevens
Yes, we have cloudy skies. Wind has picked up and temperatures are slowly dropping. I am stocked with chocolate, peanut butter and coffee. Will put on a pot of chili soup and hang around the house.
I also am aware of all the images I have of our natural area in and around Fort Collins. The city maintains 49 natural areas within 36,000 acres. That’s a lot of land and a lot of undisturbed natural land. We are fortunate to have these areas. Maybe another book.
Joseph Smith
That’s a great idea! I love making photo books even if they’re only for me. I’ve been using Blurb. I have an 8-month old granddaughter now and creating that legacy book has been on my mind for quite a while.
There’s a blog post by Missy Mwac about printing vs digital saves: https://missymwac.com/the-lesson-from-costcos-photo-lab/
It’s a reminder on preserving our memories in a transferable medium. She also wrote (somewhere I can’t locate) about creating “Nice” things that people will be less likely to toss into the recycle bin. Build a nice book or portfolio box instead of just a box of photos.
Monte Stevens
Thanks, Joe. I did go read here post and agreed with all she said. I have fallen into a place of only dealing with the digital files except the half dozen books I’ve made. I do want to make sure my images are passed on to my kids and grandkids. I think you will enjoy writing such a book or at least a few short essays. I’ve enjoyed it.
Cedric
As Tom said, these projects suit you well Monte. Even so, I am impressed with both of your endeavours. For myself, I would consider both projects somewhat daunting. In the case of the photo book, I would be hard-pressed finding enough photos coalescing around a single theme to fill even a small book, and I certainly cannot imagine doing anything like your biographical project as there are very few things in my life I remember with enough details to recount with any kind of colour or interest. It would probably just end up being a half dozen dot points. I can just picture it, my biography as a PowerPoint slide deck. I suspect three slides should do it. The first for my name, the third to say “The End” and one slide sandwiched between them, with three to six dot points of some sketchy memories of uninspired anecdotes 😉
Seriously though, these projects are great ideas Monte. I am sure you will find them enjoyable and probably enlightening too. And not least, they will certainly be meaningful and cherishable gifts for your family.
Monte Stevens
I would never have thought of a book of short stories about myself. It all began about 2-3 years ago when my oldest daughter gave me a book designed to tell your legacy. I started to read some of the questions and began remembering experiences: my first kiss, my first car, my first job, etc. Once I started to write more memories came up. I do put a disclaimer in the book. The first page is fact: date of birth, graduation, family names. I then let them know these stories and experiences I write about are not facts as time and memory will have a major factor. For example I remember my first crush. Memory tells me her name was Lori Green. Fact? Not sure but the name works but relating my feelings of my first love (lust) at 14 years of age is the story.
I have also enjoyed the opportunity to question my parents on some of the facts. When asking my dad about the home we lived in with the cherry trees, plum trees and grape vines, I could not remember if there was an apple tree. There wasn’t but we had a wonderful time remembering about the wine cellar, canned goods, gardens, and more. My mother made most of my clothes and many of our toys were made by dad.
Give it a shot, my friend!
Cedric
It makes sense that as you start to put together the pieces of memory into some coherent story, that more would come, and as you suggest, they may not be totally accurate but close enough. One thing I would certainly not have though, are dates. I simply cannot remember dates. And I have no one left to ask. In any case, I truly cannot imagine myself ever undertaking such a task. It seems gargantuan to me 🙂
Monte Stevens
Same for me with dates. What I’m doing is writing, “in junior high.” That gets me in the ballpark. I have started and enjoying it so far but we”ll see if I finish it. One of my repeated successes in life has ben not finishing projects. 🙂