Ode to Champ

I just realized today--OK, just now--that I went through an entire semester and I never truly dealt with the running-away of my dog Champ in August. I don't know why I didn't. It's weird how I found out about how he left. Here is a paraphrase:

{Scenery: My living room, Fall Break has just begun and I and my siblings are sitting around, chatting about life, etc. My Dad walks in}

Dad: I have some chores for you guys to do.
Children: [insert protests and whines]
Tamara: Haha, just don't make me feed Champ and I'm OK.

[silence]

Other Children: Too soon, Tamara.
Tamara: [insert confused look]
Kim: Wait, you were serious?
Tamara: [sensing something is not right] Yeah...why?
Kim: Champ ran away over a month ago. He left while you were in [awesome] Housing training and while the rest of us were in [even awesomer, much cooler than Training] Memphis and Missouri. We thought you knew.
Tamara: [insert sadness and devastation]

{End Scene}


I think that was quite possibly the worst way I could have found out about my dog leaving. Mad props to my family for bringing that one about. He was an awesome pet...we had him since he was 6 weeks old, and we kept him for 8 years. He was really sweet and rambunctious. He was like my dad's 5th child. Actually I kind of got a sneaky feeling every once in a while that my dad wouldn't have mind replacing us for Champ if it was possible. Just every once in a while though. I am writing this because my sisters and I were considering buying my parents a puppy for Christmas, but we knew that it would probably be a good idea to seek their approval first, considering that they would be the ones taking care of the puppy. Their vehement response of "NO" made me think about it, and I realize that my parents really loved Champ, especially my dad. I guess everybody needs time to heal...and a puppy is not the answer for everything. Although it should be. So here it is, my tribute to Champ.

[insert revered silence]





This is us giving Champ a bath in July. BTW, if you have seen a dog that looks like this, please let me know...

World Inside a Picture Frame

I was walking down the street just now after my class was over and I was overwhelmed by the breathtaking view of the Atlanta skyline. I always carry my camera around now--you never know when you'll need it, after all--but for some reason when I began to reach for my camera something stopped me. I was reminded of that John Mayer song "3x5", which basically talks about how you can't fit the world inside of a picture frame. It makes a lot of sense, I guess. I've tried the whole "capture a picture right when the mood hits you and the lighting is just right", but I am starting to think I suck at that. Once the camera is pulled out, the angle is right, the light has hit the target perfectly, and the shutter is snapped, I hit the review button and the picture is just lines and color and not what I wanted at all. SUCKS.

At least, this is how I used to feel. For my dad's birthday, my sisters and I bought my dad a digital camera (actually Kim bought it, and I still owe my portion, but please don't tell her that). Naturally my father was as pleased as punch, for up until now he had been taking pictures with his camera phone, which got to be embarrassing, to say the least...but cute, because it was my dad. Anyhoo, after we had our fun with the camera (the proof is in the facebook pictures) we let him have fun with his new toy. My family minus my little brother spent the day together a couple of days ago, and when my dad came to pick me up he handed me his camera (of course not without snapping few pictures of me getting in the car, please no paparazzi). My mother mused that my dad had been taking pictures all morning, snapping them while he was driving*. Although I laughed a little at my dad's eagerness and childlike joy, I could not help but gasp when I looked at the photographs on the screen. There was nothing particularly spectacular about the photos....in fact, most of them were taken at a jaunty angle due to the fact that my father was trying to handle a steering wheel at the same time*. There was something about the way that the simplest parts of life--i.e. the drive from my house to campus--were captured with such innocent truth. It was thrilling. Something about the way that my world could be taken apart and reassembled piece by piece and still look beautiful....the individual pieces were puzzles in themselves...it really touched my heart. And my dad is so cute! You should meet him if you haven't. But yeah, my conception of what a picture should be was pretty much shattered then and there.

I am starting to learn the value of a photograph. A photograph is a memory, a bite-size portion of life...meant to be imperfect, meant to be slightly off-balance, meant to make sense to few if any people. This is something that must be accepted.


I just wish I hadn't accidentally deleted 94 pictures on my camera. That really sucked.


Is it truly Christmastime?


*Disclaimer: The author of this blog does not condone nor encourage this activity.


Today I finally overcame/trying to fit the world inside a picture frame/maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to lose my way with words...
~John Mayer, 3x5