Paul Kilmon: A Life Illustrated in Words & Photos: My New York City Weekend

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)

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

My New York City Weekend

This past weekend I had tickets to the opera (Die Fledermaus and Tosca) and was going to see a play (The Commons of Pensacola), but had a change of heart once I got to New York. The weather was beautiful, so there was just no way I could spend my time inside. I prefer to be out and about, especially in a place like New York City, exploring the culture, people and the many neighborhoods.

I can’t believe how much I ate, and of course, the spirits were plentiful, too (reds because they are healthier). French and Italian foods were the focus, with my new favorite restaurant becoming Risotteria located in West Village. The staff, ambiance, décor and particularly the food (definitely prepared with love) were outstanding.

One of the highlights was visiting The Morgan Library & Museum, appreciating the large windows with a significant amount of light bleeding into this fabulous space. I felt like I was outdoors. I ice-skated in Bryant Park, too (now that really was a treat).

I walked the city, visiting a variety of public spaces, museums, churches, etc. There were a few exhibitions at the Public Library (Play Things and Why We Fight: Remembering AIDS Activism), which piqued my curiosity, happy I made the choice to attend.

As much as I like to walk/hike a city, I forced myself to use the subway because the culture in those confined spaces is fascinating. That’s one of my favorite places to study people. There were a few buskers performing, too. I missed a few trains because one particular performance was that good. (I love artists, and any chance I get to give them my undivided attention, I’ll do it because they bring so much beauty to our world.)

What can I say? I definitely found my joy over the weekend, and hope you did too, dear friends. I was present in the moment, and that’s all it takes. Yield to the possibilities and find yourself delightfully rewarded. Here’s to the rest of your week. Thrive! – 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