Scratcher of heads, rubber of bellies
But she does Boo, she does.
Boo had been sleeping on my legs when Trixie curled up beside him, inching her head closer and closer to his, waiting to see if he would object with each advance. When she reached her goal of having her head completely on top of his, he opened his eyes briefly but to her great delight he let her stay, and they both soon fell asleep.
Feels like dark days ahead as we give in to the gospel of fear. This can be a hard country to love, but there is much that is good, there are many worth fighting for. Here’s to brighter days, to hope, to love.
📷: Canon 7D II | Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8
🗓️: October 29, 2016
Back in 2000, Canon launched their first consumer digital SLR, the $3000 three megapixel D30. At the time I had a low-end film SLR and was looking to upgrade and was torn between getting the D30 or a much more advanced film SLR for a lot less money. While researching the D30 I found a website by an accomplished photographer named Michael Reichmann, Luminous Landscape, and his review nudged me to the D30.
While Michael and I photographed different types of things (and he was a vastly better photographer), I loved his approach to reviewing camera gear. He had a rare blend of talent, enthusiasm, experience, wisdom, helpfulness, generosity, charisma, and humility that made him my favorite reviewer. He evaluated gear based on how much enjoyed using it and how it helped (or hindered) his ability to get the shots that meant the most to him. He had an infectious love of photography and never lost sight of the big picture, that photography can be personal and meaningful and rewarding and emotional. And fun.
He died earlier this year from cancer and though I didn’t know him, I miss him.
I owe him a great deal for helping me settle on the D30. The camera had plenty of flaws but its strengths were even greater. I liked film, I loved digital. Less than half a year we adopted an adorable little kitten we named Scout. I’d give so much to be able to snuggle for even 15 minutes with Scout, who died a few years ago, and in a way the pictures help me do that. Here she’s a young kitten playing beside my wife. It’s funny that it’s almost hard for me to remember her being this young. On the one hand I remember clearly bringing her home for the first time, but it’s the adult Scout who always wanted to be curled up on or beside me that is so strongly imprinted on my memory.
Life is filled with ups and downs, something I’ve been reflecting on a lot tonight, so let me acknowledge some things that had such a positive impact on me in 2000 and 2001, and for years after. Michael, Scout, that first digital camera. Gone now, not forgotten, always loved.
(I do still have the D30 sitting around somewhere, but allow me the poetic license.)
Boo and I wondered the same thing: would this end badly?
I had kneeled to photograph Boo sitting in the broken Boo Box when Trixie jumped onto my shoulders and wrapped her legs around my head and began playing in my hair. I could feel the gentle pressure of the claws on all four feet, it didn’t hurt but if she got more rambunctious I was going to get scratched to pieces. I was afraid she’d dig in if I tried to remove her, so I kept taking pictures of Boo while she played.
Thankfully she had her fun without harm and when she jumped down I was tickled to see that with the camera at his level I had gotten a picture of a wide-eyed Boo watching her on top of my head.
I wouldn’t worry about it Samwise, I’m sure it will be fine. Probably clear up on its own.
I took this picture of Trixie hiding under the bed on her first day with us in January of 2015, she was home but it did not yet feel like home to her. It had been quite a month for her, she was rescued on New Year’s Day on the other side of the state and brought to the Oregon Humane Society here in Portland two weeks later. They kept her for two more weeks until she was spayed and we brought her home on the 27th. It wouldn’t take her long to realize she was home though, soon she was out from under the bed and snuggling with me on top of it. She’s never looked back.
I used my little mirrorless camera for these first shots to avoid stressing her any further, it’s far quieter and less obtrusive than my larger camera.
Sam and Trixie (offscreen) hang out in the guest room at the end of a heat wave. Across the hall is the air-conditioned bedroom where they can go when they need to cool down, and where I spent the entirety of the hot weather.
The box may be broken but his love remains.
Sunday was a sad day in a small way when The Boo Box gave way, finally yielding to the force but not the wish of its master. One end is still in good shape and I’ve seen Boo sitting in the remains, I’m not sure if he’s working through the stages of grief or if he likes the new relaxed shape. Perhaps he just invented The Boo Box Recliner.
This picture is from June when the beleaguered box was still holding together.
Boolie 