I just re-read the first entry from when I started this journey and I find I have not been true to the task I placed before myself. I’m certain I could spend a couple of hours examining how and why I have fallen short, or I can just move on. I choose to move on and fill in some of the gaps since last October.

November was an exciting month. I had the opportunity to hang some of my photography in the rotunda at the Jackson County Public Library. It is a beautiful building that was once the Jackson County Courthouse.

The exhibit was sponsored by the Jackson County Arts Council. In addition, the council asked me to do an “Artist Talk” which was fun. However, having never given a talk like that before, and more to the point, never having thought of myself as an “artist,” I troubled over what to do and say. In the end, I decided to speak about what I know: the equipment I use, how I shoot the pics, how I process them and what else I want to do with photography. Oh, and the one thing people wanted to know was the “artist statement” driving what I do. That was easy; I want to have fun and make pretty pictures. The event went well and my work was well received.

My two daughters had their birthdays in November as well, Zoey on the 22nd and Heather on the 23rd. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Heather’s moms and our son Nick and his fiancee, but now wife, Rachel was able to be there. Zoey was not able to make the trip. The food was excellent and we had a great time. We see our granddaughter Erin a few times a year and it always amazes me how quickly she is growing.

December was interesting and eventful. I had a mild heart attack on the seventh which was a Thursday and ended up in Mission Hospital in Asheville. I was at the library in Sylva when it occurred. From there I went to Harris Regional Hospital and the next day was taken to Mission where there is a heart unit. It was a wild ambulance ride during a snowstorm to get there. I had a cardiac catheterization on Friday afternoon which resulted in another stent being placed in my artery. On Saturday I went home. I will never be able to express my gratitude to our friends Annette and Ron who helped us in our time of need. On top of assisting us during the Harris Regional stay, they drove through the heavy snow to bring us home from Mission. I want to add to that list the folks at the library; Laura, Jessica, Jenifer, and Danielle (hope I am not missing anyone). They were beyond wonderful as they took care of me until the ambulance arrived. Sometimes a simple thank you is not enough of an expression of someone’s thoughtfulness, but it often has to do, and this was one of those times.

This was the second time I have been in the hospital because of my heart. It is also my second heart attack. Each incident has gotten my attention. This time I felt fragile and frail for several weeks after the hospital stay. Every twitch and little pain in the chest area was amplified, and my mind was like a radar with each incident being an incoming blimp on that screen. I was sensitive and vulnerable to the level I felt emotionally naked and exposed to my family, friends and the world. Time and love may be the greatest salve known to mankind and I know the two of them worked wonders for me.

Later in the month, we were in Miami for the holiday session. We stayed with Nick and Rachel and had a good time. There were a lot of family activities and it was fun getting to meet and know her family members.

Our children are spread out over the corners of the county and any time we get to spend with them is special. It is rare to have them together at the same time but being able to be with them in November and December made the end of the year special.

As this closes out the year I will stop here and say the story will be continued.