We All Matter
Monday was the perfect day to be indoors. I decided to sleep in, lying in my warm bed listening to the rain hitting the window. I used this time to meditate, and know this wasn’t an excuse to just fall back to sleep. I was focused in my thoughts, allowing my mind to wander just a bit, contemplating the possibilities. There was a bit of praying too for those who might encounter a less than favorable outcome to the hurricane.
With Hurricane Sandy outside, I was content to relax at home (as if I really had a choice), reading, writing and editing photos from my weekend. There was much going on, and I spent most of my time on the local trails enjoying the calm before the storm.
However, the highlight was the Mum show at the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, an event I look forward to annually. This year’s motif, Asian-themed gardens, is spectacular! It’s no easy feat putting together a show like this, especially on a nominal budget, but the conservatory staff does it year-after-year, and they do it well. (A special thank you to Michael and Sandy for what must be a labor of love, but to all involved – bravo!)
I don’t mind gushing over this quaint little oasis in the city, hoping my thoughts don’t fall on deaf ears. I want my words and photographs to inspire you to visit, and support the last remaining conservatory in Baltimore. It needs a lot of love and care, and not just from city officials who make the decisions on its behalf, employees who keep it running day-after-day, or the donors, which are far too few, but the everyday average Joe – I want you to put this iconic place on your list, stopping by a few times each year.
It’s a wonderful place to take the family, sitting outside after to enjoy a picnic. There are places to relax, to read and write. However, what I like to do most is meditate amongst the beautiful flowers, and for those who’ve yet to visit, please do so and you will most certainly understand why.
On a more personal note, to those dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane, know that many are praying for you. I know I am. It’s unfortunate that it has to take a catastrophe for us to join hands. It must never be about the labels Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal or poor or rich, but about people coming together to help people. I hope we’ll all think about that over the next few days. We need to look out for each other, and I’m not so sure we’re doing the best job possible, as our current political discourse proves.
Everyone is concentrating on a particular party win, without giving any thought to the narrow margin, which speaks to how divided we are as a nation, and that has me terrified for our future. We bash, point fingers, complain and attack, and there are many who don’t know what the hell they are talking about because they feed on sound bites and innuendo. We must not lose sight of social justice and interdependence. We must do what’s right and fair and just for all before it’s too late, because we all matter. – paerki
Additional Photos: Mums Show
With Hurricane Sandy outside, I was content to relax at home (as if I really had a choice), reading, writing and editing photos from my weekend. There was much going on, and I spent most of my time on the local trails enjoying the calm before the storm.
However, the highlight was the Mum show at the Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, an event I look forward to annually. This year’s motif, Asian-themed gardens, is spectacular! It’s no easy feat putting together a show like this, especially on a nominal budget, but the conservatory staff does it year-after-year, and they do it well. (A special thank you to Michael and Sandy for what must be a labor of love, but to all involved – bravo!)
I don’t mind gushing over this quaint little oasis in the city, hoping my thoughts don’t fall on deaf ears. I want my words and photographs to inspire you to visit, and support the last remaining conservatory in Baltimore. It needs a lot of love and care, and not just from city officials who make the decisions on its behalf, employees who keep it running day-after-day, or the donors, which are far too few, but the everyday average Joe – I want you to put this iconic place on your list, stopping by a few times each year.
It’s a wonderful place to take the family, sitting outside after to enjoy a picnic. There are places to relax, to read and write. However, what I like to do most is meditate amongst the beautiful flowers, and for those who’ve yet to visit, please do so and you will most certainly understand why.
On a more personal note, to those dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane, know that many are praying for you. I know I am. It’s unfortunate that it has to take a catastrophe for us to join hands. It must never be about the labels Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal or poor or rich, but about people coming together to help people. I hope we’ll all think about that over the next few days. We need to look out for each other, and I’m not so sure we’re doing the best job possible, as our current political discourse proves.
Everyone is concentrating on a particular party win, without giving any thought to the narrow margin, which speaks to how divided we are as a nation, and that has me terrified for our future. We bash, point fingers, complain and attack, and there are many who don’t know what the hell they are talking about because they feed on sound bites and innuendo. We must not lose sight of social justice and interdependence. We must do what’s right and fair and just for all before it’s too late, because we all matter. – paerki
Additional Photos: Mums Show
