Call & Response

The Call: Origami Original — Jessica

I jump for joy when my children ask me to take a picture. After all, most of the time I’m running after them with the camera begging, “please, just one more shot! I promise I’ll get it this time and be done!”

So when my fourteen year old asked me to photograph his latest origami design, I had to restrain the impulse to drag him into the process. He didn’t want to hear about the light, the reflector, the macro lens, etc. He just wanted to pick a backdrop and have me take a picture that he could post on Facebook.

I also successfully avoided the impulse to buy chocolate at the grocery store this afternoon. Instead I came home with lots of fruit.

I suppose our impulses aren’t always negative. Although when chocolate is involved, they probably are.

The Response: Wicked High Bridge — Cheryl

This is the Penobscot Narrows Bridge (half of it, anyway) near Bucksport, Maine. After it was designed, the public was asked for opinions on what it should be named. I personally liked this suggestion: The Wicked High Bridge. I knew we’d be near it (and possibly drive over it) when we decided to go to Fort Knox for our annual Labor Day field trip. As we rounded a corner and it came into view, my first impulse was to turn around and get far, far away. About seven years ago, as I was driving over the Tobin Bridge in Boston, I somehow managed to convince myself that long and/or high bridges are to be feared. Now, the fear of the anxiety attack I will likely get when I drive over such a bridge is generally enough to keep me from doing so. I was fine (sort of) going over this thing, because Dennis was driving. I keep telling myself that I’ll someday conquer my driving-related anxieties, but thus far, I’ve not been willing to do the work (I avoid interstates, too).