Category: personal

Best Date Ever Still

So, we went to the Norton Museum to see the Rembrandt show. One Vermeer, one Franz Hals and several Rembrandts, including one self-portrait by a young Rembrandt. Show was more about the Golden Age of Dutch Art than just Rembrandt. Had a great time, especially when we remembered a Hals show at the Getty Modern and the Vermeer show at the Rijksmuseum (including Night Watch, of course). Lots of memories.

One the way out, we stopped at several exhibits, including this one in the Photography gallery on tone, light, and form. Sharon posed in front of one piece, after questioning, “…, why is this art?” It’s a long story, not about what I said in response, but the general question, what is art and how it this art. We don’t have the same amount of Museum Speak in our vocabularies, but we know enough to have a conversation.

How great is that?

Never Again

So, you know I am a portrait photog who shoots people wherever I find them. The accent here sits on the “find”. Some people don’t want to be photographed. Some do it reluctantly only after I apply some people skills. Some readily cooperate and even pose. I will write the next few days about recent experiences and include portraits.

Yesterday during a photo walk with my photo friend Art, this woman with a rollator cruised by. I asked if I could take her picture, holding up camera. She asked the traditional question, “why do you want to take my picture?” I said, “…, because you are beautiful.” She said yes and I shot.

I gave her my card and told her if she emailed me I would send her a file. She  said she wouldn’t because she gets too many emails and besides, then I would have her address. Well, I pointed out, “if I were going to steal your identity, you have my card with my picture and address.”

We parted. All I am left with is the image.

Jules Feiffer, Dead at 95

Jules Feiffer died after living for 95 years. He wrote books and screenplays and drew cartoons. His wisdom extended from sex to politics and his reach from a weekly progressive newspaper to the Hollywood screen. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/arts/jules-feiffer-dead.html

Who knew he wrote a children’s book?  I read it. Made no sense and flew in the face of reality for bear lovers. A kid with many friends, one of which is a bear, loses her bear. Her father wants to teach her a lesson, so he won’t help her. Mother offers some not so helpful suggestions. And her sister, who is more mature criticizes her for using nail polish and cajoles her into sacrificing one of her family of friends.

How does it end. Happily. She jumps into bed and voila, “Bearsly” lies under the covers, right where she left him/her.

Now, I am a bear person. Couldn’t live without their love and affection. I always know where they are. Sharon said that during my 17 weeks in the hospital, the hardly slept and crawled around the house looking for me.

Jimmy Carter and Lorin Duckman

Once, a long time ago, when I was someone worth talking to, Jimmy and I had a conversation. He was no longer the President and was making the rounds, here New York Law School, to talk about human rights.

On 14 January 1980, the Administration of President Jimmy Carter joined Andrei Sakharov’s appeal to boycott the Olympics and set a deadline by which the Soviet Union had to pull out of Afghanistan or “face the consequences”, including an international boycott of the games. Carter convinced several countries to not compete when Russia didn’t leave. 9 years later, the Russians left, their attempts to support a pro-communist government faileding disastrously.

After the lecture, I told President Carter that his actions made me happy. He misunderstood me, as many have over the years, and said that he didn’t want me to be happy that he made the decision. Humbly, I replied, that his principled decision is what made me happy and that I felt for all the athletes denied the opportunity to compete.

He smiled, shook my hand.

Years later, I mailed him the picture. He signed it.