M is for the many things she gave me…….
O is for the other things she gave me
T is for the Tons of things she gave me
H is for HOW many things she gave me
E is for EVERYTHING she gave me
R is for the REST of the things she gave me….
Put them all together and that spells……… mother.
[photopress:37_tulips_beautiful_flowers_desktopwallpaper_l.jpg,full,centered]Her Favorite flowers were Tulips, which was a good thing since she was born in Holland.
We all have folks that influence us in our life. Sometimes it’s a mentor, sometimes it’s a person that has achieved a certain level of skill within that subject. And sometimes it’s a person who just lays out a right path for you.
This is a special post to celebrate someone who meant the world to me in my pursuit of a photographic life since I was a boy.
My Mom.
She didn’t know much about photography, but she did know about what was important in life.
Growing up, I always had a camera in my hands and looked around in my world to find subjects. Or see subjects. People from my childhood still remember me with a camera in my hands all of the time.
One thing that my mother always did was to encourage me to do what made me happy.
Not for the money, for the heart.
She was even kind enough to be a subject when my style as a youngster went a bit abstract, becoming the shape underneath a blanket holding a candleabra.
I know, bizarre. Even if you can picture it in your mind.
I have no idea what the picture meant at this moment, and perhaps not even then.
But mom was a great sport and played along. And supported a mantra to not worry about the financial, but keep feeding the things that brought you joy. She knew that making these photographs was giving me all that.
Dough wasn’t the deal. Even if you were flipping burgers, as long as that was what you loved, it was all good. Great life lesson.
I just happened to love photography.
Now, as many photographers have done before, I’ve been photographing her through the years and through her recent illness. But the photos are a private thing right now. I know Richard Avedon photographed his father at his end of life and Annie Leibowitz made images of her great friend and partner Susan Sontag through life and death. And both of them exhibited these images to the public.
Last night mom passed away.
I’m not ready to share these images with you today.
This is not meant as a sad post but a place to honor and celebrate her.
And to encourage you to let people in your life know that you honor them too.
The only donation we ask you to make, is to your own life and that of your loved ones.
You’ll be happy you made the contribution.
Aloha, Mom.
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Damon, So sorry to here about your Mother. I truly hope she did not suffer long. You and your Mother are in my prayers. Best Regards, Walt Rowand.
What stands out in my memories is riding around Passaic in a 1950\\\’s Mercedes convertible that your mom had for a short time.
The top was down, we were kids and that day we felt like royalty. At least I did. Thanks for that Mrs. W.
To me she was the cool mom, when most moms were cookie cutter June Cleavers, she stood out as strong and independent.
As we grew up together, no matter how freaky we got, and we did get freaky, she always accepted us without judgement and gave us our space.
With her limited financial resources she was able to show her children an appreciation of the finer things of the world. She did an amazing job considering the accomplishments of all her children.
I know there is nothing that can be said right now to fill the emptiness in your heart but know that the love you and your mom shared will warm and comfort you. Your pal, LK
I\’m so sorry for your loss, Damon. And thank you for these words that help us to
remember those we love and to take each opportunity to cherish them.
My father was the one that instilled my love & passion for photography. He was ( & still Is) never a warm fuzzy guy, and I tried everything I could to grab his attention. It wasn\’t until I expressed interest in his Yashica j9 that he gave me money for some Tri X, showed me how to load it, and sent me out to the streets of New York on Sunday afternoons for my first assignments. I would later take them to the old Camera Barn on Lower Broadway for contact sheets & would discuss my results. I\’ve been so fortunate to still have him & my mom around to say thanks & show him what I\”ve done since, thanks to them…
My prayers are with you & yours and I pray that the warm, beautiful memories and wonderful example
your mom left you will continue to bring you joy & remind you and us what really matters.
Regards & Love, Fred Bonilla
Damon – thank you for these beautiful words and a beautiful expression of love – of your mother\’s for you and yours for her. What you shared inspires me very much – both in my relationships with my family, and in my pursuit of what I love to do, which also happens to be photography.
May you know God\’s comfort.
Damon – Please accept my condolences on the passing of your Mom. I found the following quote from Henry Van Dyke. I\’ve always found some comfort in its message… Mike Pieklo
A very special message…
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!â€
“Gone where?â€
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!†there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!â€
And that is dying.
Henry Van Dyke
Damon,
My heart goes out to you in this time of loss. Your mother sounds like a wonderful soul. Be comforted in the knowledge that she will never really be gone as long as she stays in your heart.
Stan Burnett
Damon,
I am sorry you are feeling the loss of someone who was such a true friend to you. While it does not help ease the sting you are feeling now, I am happy she is not suffering any longer.
I hope that you are able to continue to get through this tough time by continuing to remember the good and by celebrating the amazing woman that she sounds like she was.
You and your mother are in my thoughts and my prayers.
Pamela
I\’m very sorry to read about your mother\’s passing and your loss. You will be in my thoughts.
Damon….
My sincerest sympathies. I lost both of my parents over the past 9 years. There\’s an emptiness that is only filled when we think of the wonderful things they did for us.
Dear Damon,
I\’m so sorry to hear about your mom. My sentiments and my prayers go to you, your mom and your family.
My warmest regards
Irit
Damon,
So sorry for your loss. I lost mine in 1960 at a very young age. Mine too was very supportive.
Sadly, it doesn\’t get any easier over the years, but we do need to remember the good times.
Mel Levine
Damon,
What a lovely way to honor your mom and all she meant to you. I am sorry for your loss, but happy that you were able to spend so many precious moments together. Wishing you God\’s peace and comfort….
Denise
Dear Damon,
What a beautiful tribute. By honoring your true passion, you honor your Mom.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Be well.
I am so very sorry for the loss of your MOM. I lost my MOM in June 2000 and I miss her as much today as the day she passed. She was my BEST Friend.
My prayers are with you.
Mikki Savage
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings. I was very moved by your writing and by your ability to see the bigger picture even at these difficult moments. Moshe
Damon:
I am so sorry for your loss–I miss my parents so much, and life feels strange without them, but they are always with me in the person I am, in the things that I laugh at, in the way I lead my life. And so they stay right by my side. As I know your mother will too. You are in my thoughts.
Damon,
My sympathies go with you. Having lost my mother I know how it feels although there are times I feel that mine is still with me, which she is in my heart. May your mother be with you.
Sholom Aleichem
Michael
Damon,
I feel deeply touched as I read your post.
Thank you for sharing a bit of how your mother supported, inspired and touched your life.
May your life have a flavor of grace as you go through this time of release.
Passing, death seems to have a way of its own, inspiring feelings we can not guess.
I hold you in my heart as you go through this tender time.
damon,
reading this post strengthens the bond i have with you.
having been through the loss of both parents when i was 18 usually elicits an awkward response when people learn of this pivotal fact of my life.
however, loss is the biggest fact in our lives in thread we have to others.
this passage ties me stronger to you.
but more importantly, your post tells me that the way that your life was shaped by your mother was so very similar to the way i was loved and supported by my mom and dad.
it\’s been a tough year for you and we\’re only in march
know that your work and expression are greatly appreciated by me and certainly by others.
wishing you all the best as you transit through this tough passage.
but know that you are blessed by having such a lovely presence grace you for so long.
don\’t hesitate to ask for my support, it will be there.
That was a great tribute to your mom and I was so sad to read that she had passed. My parents are holding on but we moved 2 years ago from Seattle, WA to KY to be near them and help them. Hope you decide to share your photos with us eventually.