Relentless Obsession

Author Thomas Wolfe wrote in his novel You Can’t Go Home Again, “I have to see a thing a thousand times before I see it once.” I understand the idea.

Over the years I’ve made thousands of pictures of my wife, dog, Vespa and the landscapes I frequent — a relentless, obsessive pursuit that many don’t understand while others dismiss as some irrational action of one of those “creative people”.

For years I’ve been venturing out on Sunday mornings, often riding the same routes looking at the same scenes. And I still see something new every trip, feel something a bit different, experience reality in a slightly altered manner.  So I keep riding and making pictures.

And Junior feels left out, wondering what attraction that silver contraption holds.  I remind him that I make a lot of pictures of him as well, thousands in fact, and still I haven’t seen him well.

A ride up Calder Alley in State College, Pennsylvania last Sunday morning.  New stories playing out, everything a bit different — special in its own way.

Riding across a valley I’ve traversed for forty years and I still find places I’ve not seen.  A short walk to the top of a weed covered promontory where I can survey this new place, take in the the sight, this time for the first time, another 999 visits to go before I see it.

Riding the Vespa, a means to an end, a part of a thousand journeys.  I keep trying to see these places and I’m not done yet.

So I’ll keep the camera handy and keep riding.