Art Muse 2.0

"Bokeh, (from the Japanese boke , "blur") is a photographic term referring to the appearance of out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera lens. Different lens bokeh produces different aesthetic qualities in out-of-focus backgrounds, which are often used to reduce distractions and emphasize the primary subject."

Tony, never one to follow the rules decided it would be interesting to have an image that was entirely Bokeh. That is me in Sky Meadow Park on a summer day last year. I actually posed for this one which is a rare thing. I am leaning on my walking stick. We call this image "The Hobbit is Boken".

For me the world seems extremely out of focus these days. The polls say people here in America think things are going in the wrong direction and nothing seems to be changing. It is though we are the out of focus area on the image and business as usually is the only thing in focus.

But perhaps there is a glimmer of hope. I have written and talked about how we have to think about the future and the children. In the world I grew up and live in it was the grownups who worked to guide us to a bright future. That is no longer true. The grownups are leading us to the edge of the cliff. It does not matter to them because they only live for the moment. Power and money are all that counts.

The hope I see is that the children, (my grandchild, grand niece and nephew and the children of my younger friends) are very aware of what is happening to the world. Four and five year olds are environmentally conscious and tell you about not using too much water and insist there lunch be in reusable containers. Young people are getting involved in the election. Young people are studying philosophy again.

I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to be a young person in today's world.

And so I say to the young people it is possible to live in a world where people care about each other. I world where you can get health care when you need it, a world where this country can pull together and be happy to make whatever sacrifices are necessary.

I don't know what is going to happen. My heart is heavy with worry. I have memories of growing up in an America that was the land of opportunity for everyone who came or was born here. A place where you could wear a tee shirt that said whatever you wanted. A place where you just got on the airplane. A place where you were not afraid. A place where you looked to your government to help and protect you.

I am going to focus on telling the children what it can be like because that is what is used to be like. I was raised by people who wanted the children to have a better life than they did. They were going forward and wanted me to be able to go even farther. But now we find ourselves living in a country where people are losing ground, going backward.

When I grew up a long, long time ago being a child was wonderful. You had not real worries, the future was bright. I was able to just be a child and enjoy it. I don't think it is the same for the children today. I had unlimited personal freedom.

So my message to the children is to talk with people who lived in America and ask them what is what like so that you know the possibilities. Use your common sense. It is probably the most valuable thing you have. When you hear something ask if it makes sense.