Go slow

I have a thing for cranes. It's strange, I know. But I can explain. 

First, clearly the explanation is long so sometimes I avoid giving it and if it comes up I’ll brush it off by saying “I just have a thing for cranes.” People often leave it at that, because well, it’s weird and who cares? My friend, A, left it at that and for quite a while was under the impression that I’m aroused by birds. I think we’ve since cleared that up. But we continue to have a good laugh about it now and then. 

Second, I find cranes architecturally interesting. They have beautiful lines, symmetry and angles. The typical contrast against blue skies or mixed into a city skyline photographs really well. I have photographed them all over the country because they are beautiful but also to capture a brief yet important moment in time that is worth acknowledging as described below. My good friend and travel buddy K knows part of any road trip is capturing these beauties along the way!

Third, cranes represent a literal change in a community – and usually a big one. Some people will feel the loss of what used to be and some people will look forward to what will be. But I think to honor both we must acknowledge and embrace the process. It’s important to respect that a lot is happening here, go slow. Instead, we often avoid the process, grumble about it, even if it is a change we are in favor of. We become too eager for the finished product to acknowledge what it takes to get there. Also, there’s no such thing as a finished product, as soon as it is “finished” it begins to deteriorate, gradually and eventually leading to the same process over again.  

Fourth, for me, cranes represent the metaphorical process of growth and change that we all go through and is essentially the process of living. All the things I said above apply – we spend too much time mourning what used to be and focusing on the outcome rather than focusing on the process. And the reality is, we are never a finished product; we’re always changing and growing. So on this level, it is a gentle reminder to be patient with ourselves and others, we’re all going through change and it is important and necessary and beautiful. With ourselves and others we need to remember, “go slow, something is happening here”. The final product is not the important part anyway – and neither are the people that find that part of you to be the most important. We are all a work in progress and we need frequent reminders to embrace that.

Last, I have issues with death, particularly our burial process. I hate the idea of people visiting me in a cemetery – because that’s not where I would be if I was alive and I don’t intend to be there in death. If people miss me I’d rather they seek comfort in going for a run, singing at the top of their lungs in their car, volunteering their time, trying something out of their comfort zone, or noticing the beauty of cranes and remembering to be gentle with themselves. Because, these are places I would actually be. I think we are closer to people we miss when we engage in experiences or memories that remind us of them. 

My friend N wrote a post in her blog vaguely about this perspective of mine and how important it is to her that she sees me in cranes and they are everywhere she goes, every city, anywhere in the country and thus I am always with her.

What is most interesting about this to me is that it means something a little different to anyone I explain it to but that’s kind of the point – for A, it is a really good hard laugh, for N, it is an ever-present connection to me and a reminder to embrace change, for K it something beautiful to photograph that makes her think of the dozens of times we've traveled together and I’ve made her pull over so I could take a picture. And these are all me. These are all ways I'd want to be remembered.