Like it or not, everything has an end.
This applies to the important things as well as to the most ordinary, small things in life.
I have started a personal retrospective of the past year through photos. Some photos bring with them a story, several stories that together leave a picture of what I did, what I liked, and what impressed me.
It remains a document that helps the memory, helps not to forget, especially the pleasant moments because that's all I meant.
What was bad and useless I would like to forget and have nothing to remember.
The retrospective came to an end today. Before the end, I'll do a recap of the recap...
This Is The End, My Friend
There are three months left: October, November and December.
October
October is in the middle of the fall calendar. Equally unhurried, it hovers between summer and fall.
I didn't even notice that October can be boring without much action. Just doing this retrospective and looking through the photos I took this month, I noticed I don't have as many photos as other months. It's been a month without traveling, I've been more at home. It was, however, also time to meet old friends at a barbecue.
To reach my friends I had to cross one of the squares in Bucharest, Piata Unirii. Here is the biggest artesian fountain in the city and because I pass by it relatively rarely, I took some pictures as if I had discovered it on a trip, to another town.
Meetings with old friends, there are only a few, last late into the night. Back home I had the opportunity to see the fountains in all their splendor, accompanied by lights and music.
I noticed people's thin clothing, a sign that the temperature was much higher than it should be this fall month.
November
It wasn't until November that we felt the fall.
The park next to the house must have a place here. It cannot be forgotten!
November was not as cold as it was wet. It rained a lot, a long, heavy downpour that kept us indoors a bit longer.
A character present in many of my photos over the past year has been the one who will carry on some of my genetics and, I hope, some memories of me.
My only granddaughter and probably the only one, Ilinca!
Ilinca has two more years to go before she starts school but she loves to train, write and draw. A wonderful child, quite hard to accompany, and for whom I hope the world will have a future. To all the children of the world!
December
December is not what it used to be... a long time ago.
December was more action-packed than the other months of
fall is a transit month between fall and winter.
I took some night shots again, a mode I rarely use, because most of the time I fail to get good results.
Some protests in the city center, in the University Square in Bucharest, got me out of the house late at night.
I haven't participated in street protests in about ten years. The last one was very violent.
Now I was glad to see that people even came with their children, a sign that violence is not happening now.
I went to the last Art Safari exhibition this year. It happens three times a year, for three months. I bought my early-bird tickets at half price, and I almost missed the exhibition because of my wife's health. I visited on a second-to-last day open.
Queen Marie of Romania wore the mantle at the coronation ceremony on October 15, 1922.
Queen Maria is the historical character in modern Romanian history that I like and esteem the most.
A few days before Christmas I made another trip to the childhood village.
The monument commemorates the inhabitants of this village who died in various wars, the Romanian War of Independence, in 1877, and the two world wars of the last century. My grandfather also appears on this monument. He died in 1940, during the Second World War. I did not know him.
The building in the picture used to be the school where I learned the first two grades, and then I went with my parents to Bucharest. Now this building is abandoned. Various nostalgic feelings come over me every time I see it.
Well, we have come to an end. "This is the end, my friends, this is the end", as Jim Morisson says in this cult Doors song...The End**.
I thought it would be easy but it wasn't. I thought there would be one blog, but there were four. It was interesting, I learned things about the past year that I hadn't thought about.
Without wishing to offend anyone I say now that I wrote primarily for myself, who I am my most loyal reader. Thank you!
I rely mostly on photos in all my blogs. Words don't help me as much as photos.
I always start with photos when I want to write a blog. Photos remind me of places, events, and feelings that then turn into words. When I post in Photography Lovers the words have even less importance, they are a companion to the photos I want to show. This often makes the story uninteresting or common, yet it is necessary; otherwise, the photos would merely be a series of unexciting images.
I make this statement as a plea to those reading not to over-judge the text and to focus on the photos. The story puts everything in context and provides the explanations and clarifications necessary for the blog to convey something of interest to the reader.
Since we all love photography, let’s explore the captivating details captured in these photos.!
A wise saying goes that a photograph is worth a thousand words, but I don't think so.
It depends on the viewer. Just a friendly heads-up: I'm keeping an eye on you!
That song was the first thing that came to mind when I read the title of your post!
Happy New Year, @castleberry! Sorry for the late reply...
I like to use parts of songs or movie names when choosing a title.
No worries! Smart move on title selections. hahaha
Thanks!
Hey this is a neat way to use your blog for your benefit and others! Being thoughtful and reflecting on the past is so good for mental health and happiness. I find myself and many others suffering their memories with regret rather than celebrating them for the part of us they are.
It was a great read and borrowed perspective. Happy New Year old friend!
I can testify that it is good for health and happiness. I didn't know when I started, but I found out after I finished.
I liked it the most when you called me "old friend". It's comforting when someone considers you that way.
Happy New Year, old friend!
Pictures/photos always caught my attention then the story behind. In your posts, I found both a luxury for my eyes and mind.
Photos are a way to remember the moments and the people, while I can't go traveling the world to see everything myself, thanks to people like you who shared it willingly and beautifully.
I'm glad I achieved what you said, that's what I intended. Thank you very much for the comment!
What for the protest was? I heard that the election cancelled in Romania some time ago.
Yes, there are those who lost after the elections were canceled.
I loved your summary of the year and the photos and seeing your granddaughter Ilinca so studious and applied. I know she will have a beautiful future, very promising.
May peace reign this 2025 and may your wife be well.
Forgive me, @nanixxx, for responding so late.
Thank you for this wonderful comment and perfect wishes. I wish the same.
It is my turn to wish you that in 2025 you will see important changes in your country and in your life, changes for the better that are possible, they happened to me and I say in full knowledge of the facts. There are differences, but there will be changes. Apart from that, good health and fulfill the desires closest to your heart!
Jim Morisson for the end of your compilation of the yearly recap post. 🎶 Excellent picks from the months, your granddaughter is definitely the most beautiful of everything. I will just disagree that October can be a boring month haha (it is my month 😋)
I am responding so late, @mipiano, I apologize.
Your opinion got right to my heart, thank you!
I was referring to how my October was (I found I took a few photos).
I'm glad it's your month, it's also mine, with the anniversary of my first name and my wife's birthday, so we have something in common.
I scroll through the missing months and I seem to see the posts you have written on those occasions. I really liked the one about the little girl... I remember it and all the others, I love nature and walking the streets telling a story. Beautiful the tour you have given of the whole year.
Thank you! It's true, I wrote about many of the episodes collected in this retrospective.
And it was great. Big hug!
!discovery 35
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I like this candid self mirroring idea of yours. I believe this retrospective look revived much more than what is said here. Truly inspiring post.
Thank you!