Artsy Fartsy

I've realized that the individuals in my family are each artistic in different ways. A few of my siblings have the ability to use a camera to catch so much more than a simple image. They capture a moment, an experience, a feeling. Their photography can influence your mood, change your perception, help you to see things from a different angle, both physically and intellectually (I have no idea how that works, but it does, trust me).

Taking an image from one's own mind and presenting it through various media is another talent that many of my family members possess. Through paintings, drawings, or simply doodling they are able to express things that others can only imagine. One brother has had the makings of an engineer since he was 5, thinking of grand contraptions and machines, then methodically drawing them out and showing you exactly how they work.

I like to think that I share at least a small portion of these artsy abilities, however there isn't very much evidence to support that. There's another talent in my family that I feel I have a good handle on, and that's the use of words, either in speaking or writing. Public speaking is, naturally, a little bit nerve racking, but I enjoy the challenge of keeping the attention of an audience, not through slapstick humor, props, or action, but merely through the use of words. Writing is something I've always been able to do, even though at times I haven't enjoyed it. I BS'd my way through more English papers through junior high, high school, and college than I care to remember. Of course, I've never had anything published, unlike some in my family, but there are times that I find a lot of joy in putting things to paper. This posting is not a very strong example of writing prowess, as you may have already determined in your own mind, but it's not meant to be. This is merely me contemplating the abilities and talents with which my family has been blessed, something everyone should do once in a while. You'll find that as you recognize the skills of those closest to you, you might have a little of that skill in yourself as well.

I'm not much of a photographer, but sometimes I get a lucky shot. These are from the last few years. Don't judge too harshly, my talents lie elsewhere...