Remember, the camera is a machine. It does not have feelings, and it didn’t go to art school.

Joe's ASIAN TOUR 2011

After my oral surgery …. mouth still full of stitches but face swelling and bruising almost gone!  Painful experience though… soups and soft foods for 4 weeks….

FoxNews.com - Ansel Adams Photo Treasure Find?

via www.foxnews.com

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-7604274519178657282&hl=en&fs=true

via video.google.com

This was my very first camera that was my very own……I started photographing when I was around 8 years old and have documented as much of life as I possibly could.  The first camera that I ever owned was the Polaroid swinger in the early 1960's…….. the rest is history!

I was trying to build a collection of souvenir money like my friends Yume & Curtis have but was not as successful!  I'll keep trying… this is taken in 2009 of their collection…. mine is 1/8 this size…. 😦

My first international travel and I was building a collection of crisp bills for my istock photography but lost them…. so sad….

Asakusa has narrow lanes, old wooden houses, craft stores, sanctuaries and a mossy cemetery….. my Mentor,  Lee Peterson,  told me not to miss this place.  We saw Rickshaw carriages and I got a pair of Ninja black toe shoes….

The number of people in this city is astounding!  One cannot image it without seeing it.  The one thing that is super impressive however,  they do not eat in public,  talk on cell phones in public and are very respectful of others presences.  It's sort of shocking really.  They will always have headphones on and texting away on cell phones but the quietness of the city for the amount of people is impressive.  When the train doors close I'm embarrassed to snap away because the shutter of my camera is the only noise…and Marty and I giggle cause it sounds soooooo loud! Ofcourse no one notices cause they have headphones on…ha!  Silly me! You'll see train photos in another blog…but it's super crowded.  Certainly would be nice if American could have this amazing courtesy.

Micky Mouse, Snoopy & Hello Kitty are everywhere regardless of age or gender…. it's really cool!  Cell phone covers, trinkets, jewelry, bracelets…etc..

Ueno Park Area

via www.youtube.com

My Dad's Alzheimer's is taking the best of him and now he is in the hospital with pneumonia in both lungs, dehydrated and likely his days are few….I spoke with my Mom this morning (AM Tokyo time… afternoon in NC USA) My Mom has been strong during these last few months.  Sixty plus years they have been best friends and side by side… always enjoying the simple pleasures together.

This is a man who was with Special Forces during WWII,  received A Bronze Star and farmed the lands of North Carolina and absolutely loved little Children.  A gentle soft spoken man of Cherokee land, maintained physical fitness of his youth thru-out his life.

I sit here in a hotel far away and wonder why the exit in life cannot be more graceful and honorable as the life itself?  Grateful I have time to ponder these thoughts and come to terms with the details of it all.

This song by Paul Peterson has always been a favorite since I was a little girl in the 60's….

My Dad Lyrics

musician: Paul Petersen

He isn't much in the eyes of the world
He'll never make history
No, he isn't much in the eyes of the world
But he is the world to me

My dad, now here is a man
To me he is everything strong
No, he can't do wrong, my dad

My dad, now he understands
When I bring him troubles to share
Oh, he's always there, my dad

When I was small I felt ten feet tall
When I walked by his side
And everyone would say "That's his son"
And my heart would burst with pride

My dad, oh I love him so
And I only hope that some day
My own son will say
"My dad now here is a man" 

Paul Petersen – My Dad Lyrics

Collage of My Dad & Me below….

In his Military Uniform with German coins and German postmarked letter he wrote to 

my Grandma…..on top of old leather journal….. I've had these memories and keepsakes since

I was a little girl… put them into a collage in 2005 visit home.   Most recent visit home this 

summertime..2010.

Continued from Friday…. the most peaceful place being the Meiji Shrine surrounded by giant old trees….. well come out, cross the bridge and welcome to the Funky Town….mobs of people…. a young fashion trendy uptown walk thru the streets and allys….