I'm like a pencil;
sometimes sharp,
most days
well-rounded,
other times
dull or
occasionally
broken.
Still I write.
j.g. lewis
is a writer/photographer in Toronto.
Category: A daily breath
Does the night have
fewer questions, or are you naturally
allowed more substantive time
for thought?
Our daylight hours require agility
to navigate ever-present issues
which matter more to others
than to your self. Anxiety overwhelms,
even on good days. Never are you
of the mind to deal with it.
There is always something else.
Always, all ways, always.
Nighttime is more
than a reprieve. Darkness allows you
to breathe easier, it seems. Mind
always active, in a certain sort of way,
even in sleep you seem
to find your way.
08/37/2024 j.g.l.
Posted on August 26, 2024 by j.g.lewisLeave a comment
Last Friday I took the time to donate blood. It is something I usually do every couple of months.
I do it because I can. I donate because blood is always needed.
I missed my prescheduled appointment back in the spring. Circumstances were such that I couldn’t go when I was supposed to go, then I got busy doing other things and simply forgot to reschedule a time to get back.
This past couple of months I haven’t been doing all I usually do. Instead, I was doing other things I felt I needed to do and let a few other regular things slip. As it turns out, it became a summer of self-discovery in many ways. During the process a few of my now-habitual practices were allowed to go undone (even ignored).
It might have been selfish of me, but maybe that was a good thing? Maybe we all need a break from the routines and regularities that usually fill our time here on earth?
As this month (and summer itself) draws to a close, and a “project” I sort of fell into has reached the point where it has become a habit, I began feeling that it was time to go back to my regular duties. We need to do the regular things that we do; they are what makes up who we are.
We need routine.
So, I got back into my routine of donating blood, I even booked my next appointment for October. You can make a blood donation every couple of months (technically, I can donate up to six times a year) and I know I should.
So, I did.
It is one of those things I feel I need to do. Donating blood is a selfless act. One blood donation can help save lines. Blood donations are used to treat a variety of medical conditions — cancer comes to mind quickly — and the valuable resource is used to replace blood lost in accidents, surgeries, and childbirth.
Blood is vital, it carries oxygen and nutrients from head to toe, and without blood humans simply wouldn’t survive.
It’s pretty important.
Blood is in you to give. It costs you nothing but an hour or so of your time and the results are priceless: lifesaving in fact.
The need for blood is rising. At certain times of the year the blood inventory in this country dwindles. It is important not only to give, but to give regularly.
I just did, and I will again and again.
08/26/2024 j.g.l.
Posted on August 22, 2024 by j.g.lewisLeave a comment
I wasn’t sleeping soundly the other night; I’ll blame it on the full moon.
I’ve got this thing for Luna — and have for as long as I remember — so knowing she was outside my window in her finest state, somewhere, gave me reason enough to go looking.
This month it is a Blue Supermoon — you might have noticed the increased attention in the news reports — its elliptical orbit bringing the celestial delight closer to earth than it has been for a while.
The day before I caught a glimpse of her hugging the CN tower on my way to my early morning coffee ritual a couple of blocks from home. I took out my iPhone and captured an acceptable image, but I’m still the type who considers my real camera the best option.
Very early yesterday morning, armed with my camera and longer lens, I was graced with an opportunity almost as soon as I stepped onto the sidewalk outside my condo. In all its brilliance, the lovely moon was shining out above the lofts across the street. I captured an image but wanted more, so I continued to wander through the streets of downtown Toronto looking for the best photograph I could get.
It was not an easy task. Given the landscape of the inner city with its proliferation of cranes, condominiums and office towers, my view of the sky is often blocked (night or day).
It wasn’t until I arrived at St. James Park that I glanced up through the trees and found my subject towering over the steeple of St. James Cathedral.
A beautiful sight.
I’ve taken photographs of full moons at various locations on this planet. At times the resulting pictures are nothing more than a sphere of light, occasionally tangled up in the clouds. This time the moon, and its location, was as clear as the night.
What I appreciate most about this recent photograph is that it localizes my view. It is only a few blocks from where I now call home, but I will be moving away from this city sometime soon. In this photograph I know where I am, at that moment, and I will remember for years to come. That, to me, is the essence of a good photograph. I am satisfied with my results.
08/22/2024 j.g.l.
