Paul Kilmon: A Life Illustrated in Words & Photos: Fire Escape Garden (2021)

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, May 12, 2021

Fire Escape Garden (2021)

It’s that time of year again! Time to roll up my sleeves and get dirty. I’m talking about gardening. For a gardener, winter seems like an eternity, but spring is here now so let’s get busy beautifying our neighborhoods. The beginning of May is the perfect time to start turning over soil and decorating flowers beds.

As much as I would love to have and be working in a space that’s part of Mother Earth, I am content having a garden, which consists of flowerboxes sitting outside in my recessed windowsills, as well as beautiful flowerpots on my fire escape, filled with flowers from my many trips to the farmers’ markets. Additional touches to make my garden complete are hanging baskets and a few birdfeeders, especially those that will attract one of my favorites, the hummingbird.

I’ve planted many different gardens over the years: indoor, water, herb, patio, vegetable and a few others. There are many types to choose from. One of my favorites being an English garden, but that requires space, more time than I have and a bigger commitment overall. Still, I am content with what I have, because for me the experience of gardening is about the exercise, the arranging, the fragrance of the flowers, and sitting back after all the hard work is done and feasting my eyes on beautiful colors each day for two seasons (that would be spring and summer, if we are lucky). I’ll grow some wildflowers too, so that I can have fresh flowers throughout the summer and for when I have friends over for Sunday brunch.

The gardening experience is an excellent hobby for many reasons. It reduces stress, and isn’t that purpose enough? It gives you an opportunity to be outdoors enjoying the fresh air, which will help you absorb vitamin D to help build strong bones. It provides exercise for your upper body, too.

There are some of us who naturally have a green thumb. I’m lucky to be one of those people. With a little reading, understanding, time and commitment you can also acquire a green thumb. For those reluctant gardeners, you are part of the gardening process, too. We need you to survey our work and inspire us with your compliments. To gardeners everywhere, I wish you the greenest of thumbs. – paerki

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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