6 February

Poem: The Divine Old Dog: The Angels Know Her Well

by Jon Katz
The Divine Old Dog
The Divine Old Dog

The Divine Old Dog has all of her pride,

even though her legs weaken,

arthritis slows her walk,

but not her pride.

The Divine Old Dog slips,

jumping into the car,

she falls onto the ice

on her back,

she is chastened, confused,

she is slow getting up.

On her walk, she listens for the chipmunks,

for the squirrels, she accepts her life,

she looks away,

on the coldest days she curls up,

by the wood stove, sighing,

dreaming of other days,

of rabbits and chipmunks caught,

she lies still and curled up in a ball, to warm

the soreness in her bones,

alone with the memories of a hard life,

and the loved ones she protected,

from all the dangers of the world.

Yesterday, a package came to the door,

a man in a brown suit knocked,

the Divine Old Dog did not awaken,

did not hear the knock,

no roar this day, no charge at the door,

to drive out the intruders.

The Divine Old Dog retreats to her dreams,

the Angels wait for her,

they know her well.

6 February

Looking At Our World

by Jon Katz
Looking At Our World
Looking At Our World

“Looking At Our World,” a special photography exhibit hosted by the Round House Bakery Cafe, beginning Monday, February 10, at the Round House Cafe, 1 Washington Street, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Reception Thursday, February 20, 7-8:30 p.m. at the cafe. You are invited to see the genius of George Forss, one of the most acclaimed photographers in the world, and some of my photos as well.

6 February

Photo Shows And Friendship: Man Of Grace

by Jon Katz
Friendship And Photo Shows
Friendship And Photo Shows

Friendship is a curious thing, I have gotten closer to George Forss, he is a man of many friends and many gifts. Sunday, we are all going over to the Round House Cafe to hang out join photo show “Looking At Our World.” I could never have done this by myself George has printed my photos and done a magnificent job, and Maria helped me pick out the frames, custom order the mats ($40 apiece) and earlier this week we put the photos, mats and frames together. Doing this ourselves means we can keep the price of the photos down – I’m charging $200 for the matted and framed ones I’m putting up.

George and I are different, I have never been close to a UFO Investigator before, I haven’t know many, I suspect I have avoided them. There are many things in my life now that I have avoided, most of them are good and very welcome. George was one of the most famous photographers in the world when he lived in New York, he has been supplanted by time, modesty, 911 and the rise of digital photography, which ended a golden age of photography in America.  George has handled this, and the many challenges in his life with grace, always grace. Lots of people are taking photos, few of them are like George’s. It is an honor and great moment for me to be sharing a photo show with George, an affirmation of my photography. It means a lot to me.

We are have a reception on February 20th, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Round House Cafe, 1 Washington Street, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. George has some challenges on his hands today, I am thinking of him, wishing him.

6 February

Mickey In The Cold

by Jon Katz
Mickey In The Cold
Mickey In The Cold

I ran into Mickey on Main Street today, he was living the house he shares with his step-brother George Forss, who has been helping to care for Mickey for more than 20 years. After Mickey was hospitalized, he vanished, George couldn’t find him and didn’t see him for years. One day George was drinking a cup of coffee in Manhattan when a man he didn’t recognized sat down next to him and said quietly, “how’s Norma,” the name of their mother. George recognized Mickey and has been caring for him ever since.

Mickey has a regular route he walks on Main Street, even in the cold, he has a lot of warm clothes and he is an artist in his own right, he fashions his own look.

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