One way or another, rough edges tend to disappear.
x100.365 #116: Precision
Milkshakes must be consumed through a curly straw, from a sippy cup, on a placemat, on this particular corner of the toy box.
That is all.
x100.365 #115: Europe (but not)
I’ve admired this residence since childhood. Not sure why.
When information is set free…
From Seth Godin’s latest post:
When information is set free, does it help you or hurt you?
If it’s not helping you, this is a good time to change your model.
I’m seeing the ways free access to information is revolutionising education, photography and journalism, and in each of these areas, it seems to me that too many people are doing too little to keep up. Whether they’re oblivious or cynical, the outcome will be the same: they will know less than the people they serve, and thus become irrelevant. Unless, of course, they adapt to this brave new world–probably by offering something that can’t be googled.
What are you doing to “knowledge-proof” yourself?
x100.365 #114: Goodbye
Dainere Anthoney has become one of my heroes.
In 2009, she was diagnosed with a highly malignant brain tumour. Last Monday night, it finally claimed her life.
She was 15.
What she achieved while fighting an epic battle with her medulloblastoma can only be described as profound. She published a book (based on her remarkable blog), raised funds and awareness for brain tumour research, created beautiful art, diligently continued her schooling, published another book (a picture book for children), and so much more.
She did it all while enduring devastating pain (and not just the physical kind). She did it all with a glorious smile. She did it all with utterly selfless love for everyone around her.
I met Dainere and her family in 2010, when I gave the Anthoneys a photo session. It was impossible not to love her.
My children were lucky enough to meet her during subsequent visits to Canberra. We imagined we were cheering her up, but I suspect we were the main beneficiaries of these visits. Dainere’s grace and serenity were extraordinary. And that smile …
Dainere, you lived your short life like a superhero. We miss you already, but we’re so glad your pain is over. And don’t worry, we’ll do everything we can to give your beloved family all the love they’ll need as they figure out how to live without you.
Goodbye, beautiful rainbow girl.
(A few photos from today’s celebration of Dainere follow.)
x100.365 #113: Canberra
Carol Duncan and I are in Canberra to say goodbye to this beautiful girl. More about that tomorrow.
Meanwhile: despite its political overratedness, Canberra is quite a good-looking city.
x100.365 #111: Wattle
Yep. It’s wattle. And sky.
x100.365 #110: Dunedoo
Just a few random snaps from Dunedoo, where we stopped for lunch on our way home from Dubbo, mostly to prolong our enjoyment of being in, you know, Dunny-Doo.
These were taken moments apart and have quite different “vibes”. Waiting – or not waiting – can make all the difference in this game.
Postoperative
It’s been a week since Dr Wills and her surgical team took to me with a bunch of laparoscopic implements to conduct a Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication in a 2-hour procedure at John Hunter Hospital. The aim was to address the most problematic symptom of my achalasia (food just barely passing from my esophagus to my stomach, due to my lower esophageal sphincter being in almost constant spasm), without leaving me too vulnerable to reflux (allowing food to pass down without restriction tends to allow acid to pass up without restriction).
Recovery has been remarkably quick (externally, anyway). I was off pain relief within 24 hours of surgery, home and relatively comfortable within 48 hours. Food (of the puréed or finely chewed variety) has been going down with more ease than I’ve experienced in roughly 2.5 years — no nausea, no need to lie down to help it pass, no need for tiny helpings. Normal energy levels are starting to return. My depression is lifting even further. It’s nothing short of miraculous!
I look forward to using this new lease on life to catch up on various projects (like x100.365, which I’ve struggled to keep up with!), but mostly to become a better person.
x100.365 #109: Dubbo longneck
This is uncropped at a focal length equivalent to 35mm (as per all of my X100 photos). That’s how close you can get to these beauties at Western Plains Zoo.
I heart Dubbo.