Paul Kilmon: A Life Illustrated in Words & Photos: National Park Week

Welcome!

Through my writing, photography, career, and personal challenges, you will discover I am just like you, a person on a journey. My goals are simple, to be healthy and happy. You will learn I have many interests. The driving force for all I do is communication, the sharing of ideas and my passion for laughter. It really is the best medicine and a great stress reducer.

I consider myself a down-to-earth guy, who is just making it up as I travel through life, adding a virtual laugh track here and there to amuse others and myself. I have a friendly personality, which is expressive, warm, upbeat, fun, and positive. I love meeting new people. I thrive on communication, organization, diversity, creativity, and laughter. – Paul Eric Kilmon (paerki)

Friday, April 18, 2014

National Park Week

For those who don’t know, National Park Week begins tomorrow (April 19th – 27th). I recently read, there are 401 national parks, and they include seashores, battlefields, historic homes and archeological sites. There is at least one National Park in every state.

Maryland is fortunate to have several – Antietam National Battlefield, Assateague Island National Seashore, Catoctin Mountain Park, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Fort Washington Park, Hampton National Historic Site, Monocacy National Battlefield, Piscataway Park and Thomas Stone National Historic Site. I’ve visited most, appreciating the history of all.

City parks are by far my favorite, especially those closest to my home... Druid Hill Park, Robert E. Lee Memorial Park, Patterson Park, Cromwell Valley Park, Herring Run Park, Federal Hill Park and Wyman Park. I love the trails and wildlife. Parks in general teach us so much about native plants and animal life, and the way they rely on each other. They are instrumental in keeping the air and water clean, too.

What I fancy most is the natural beauty, and I’m thankful to have these wonderful sanctuaries to retreat to, which aid in my ability to unwind, relax and thrive. I hike, camp, rock climb, picnic and occasionally swim, but what you can always find me doing is photographing those beautiful landscapes, while taking in the fresh air. I’m all about those majestic wide-open spaces. Spring and summer is the best time to visit any park, and I encourage everyone to play outdoors. – paerki

What would life be like without memories? It’s fair to say, there would be no life at all. Memory is our communication, reason, coherence, our action and more importantly, our feeling. Memories create our path in life, developing our psychology and leading us emotionally.

One of the best ways to create and store memories is with video. These simple effortless little snippets of time create diaries and become perpetual time capsules, which justify our walk on earth, telling all with great enthusiasm… I was here! I mattered! I lived! Please, don’t forget me.

Share your views, thoughts and opinions in the written word. Snap photographs so your eyes can travel back in time, remembering the happy and sad moments that made you the person you were, are and became in life. But, whenever possible, capture video to enhance the memories you leave behind, so that others may pass the essence of your life on to future generations. – paerki

I love photographs! They have this amazing ability to tell stories of fun places, special moments, memorable events, and exciting places. They give us reason to pause and remember friends, family, coworkers and so many others. One photograph can conjure up a flood of memories taking us on a journey. They help us remember the past, enjoy the present and ponder the future.

On a cold and rainy day I love sitting in my living room with a roaring fire, a glass of wine, classical music playing in the background and my many photographs scattered about me. I love sifting through what I call my special collection, which refers to my favorites. They remind me of the saddest and happiest moments of my life. They remind me of challenges and overcoming.

My large collection of images are a testament to a life lived. Life happens all around us so it’s important to collect special memories, and what better way than with a photograph. – paerki

It’s hard to believe I’ve been blogging for more than 12 years. This art form has allowed me to showcase and express my creativity. It has bolstered my confidence (not that is was lacking). At times it has been therapeutic, but more than anything it has given me a much deeper view of the world and how I see myself in it.

I use my insights as a barometer for self-change, which helps me reconcile the past, adapt to the present and navigate carefully into the future. I have enjoyed the roller coaster ride of thought as my hands write it and my eyes see it. As always, I hope you can relate to my stories, appreciate my views, savor the wisdom, reflect on the concepts and, more than anything, respect my friendly and genuine interest in connecting with others.

Find you own voice. Think about writing your own blog. Learn your style, share your views and open a whole new world of possibilities for you and your readers-to-be.. – paerki