Saturday, June 12, 2010

Seeing 2010 (#79)

For your consideration: a candid portrait of a good friend. Perhaps one of the last taken of him as a bachelor . . .

A few years ago I had the great pleasure of introducing Mr. Rex and a couple of his friends to the nooks, crannies, and traditions known to long-time visitors of the St. Francis Retreat Center. Great guys, all; my favorite memory of that weekend was shepherding them during the midnight walk down the entry road under a breathtakingly star-studded sky. We enjoyed a good deal of banter along the way . . . as well as a blissful time in silence as we paused at my own personal "meditation pullout." We stood and listened to the gentle breezes whispering over the fields and through the trees while gazing heavenward for streaking meteors. A couple of the younger men had never before had such a deliberate experience -- to consider the wonder and vastness of the cosmos in silent reflection -- and they reported that it made a considerable impact on them.

Getting to know Mr. Rex during and since that gathering was and continues to be a real treat; he's been a frequent source of not only warm feelings but also insight and good humor, and he's respected by many of his peers.

Today is going to be a momentous occasion in his life: he's getting married! Much to my great surprise, he's invited me and my wife to attend. The invitation list is very small, and I am genuinely, deeply humbled to be included in his inner circle for such an important moment on his journey. An amazing gift, and we wish him and his bride-to-be, Krista, all the love and blessings possible in their new life together!

Oh: about the image's title: our groom's full name is Justin Ricks, but I inadvertently captioned the image on my smugmug site as Just Ricks -- a typo which happens to serve as an apt description for an image featuring a single subject!



Just Ricks, #7976

© 2010 James W. Murray, all rights reserved.

(click image for larger version)

Details: May 15, 2010; Canon 20D; f/3.5 @ 1/60 sec; -1/3 EV; ISO 400; 100mm.

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