Zenit ET: May 2004 Archives

©Dave Marquis 2004 Zenit ET

 This is another picture from the second Oakland cemetery series that I took over a week ago. I took this photo wondering what memories will be left of us after a generation or two. I have walked through many of the Twin Cities cemeteries and it is a sad sight to see so many long forgotten people buried there. Their grave markers get abused from young kids down to the very lawn mowers that chip and knock them over. Some just sink into the murky realm of forgotten relatives. All hope is not lost though. There are a number of restoration groups around the country trying to restore the dignity of the forgotten souls buried in cemeteries arcoss America. To me, it isn't the question of were we go when we die, but what happens to our memory when we are gone.

Not a lot going on here tonight. I am just playing around with a new server for www.japanish.org. I would like to be able to get Gallery to work like it is supposed to. It looks like I will be switchng to a different web server platform.
Here is a photo that I took at the Oakland Cemetery.

©Dave Marquis 2004 Zenit ET

 I am wondering why people seem to skimp on the flowers that they place at grave sites. I mean that these flowers that I have captured here on film are fake, plasticy things that will probably be on this planet for centuries if not millenniums to come. This is also a sign that we live in a busy world, where people do not have time to make it out to their loved ones even once every two weeks to change the flowers. It is a truly sad thing to see. I am just thinking that if people really wanted to never forget a death of someone they loved, wouldn't they choose the best flowers?  Fake flowers are really just the tip of the iceberg. In that I mean that it is not common to see forgotten people whose markers have been graffitied, knocked over, or have simply have been forgotten and sunk into the ground so little is left to even find these people by if it wasn't for a burial map.  I took this picture while on a walk with my wife, Yuko on May 10, 2004. It was taken with my Zenit ET on Fuji Superia 200 color film.

Dave Marquis Zenit ET

 Today Yuko and finished up our baby class and I have to say that it was very informative even though I did find it annoying to have to get up at 7:00 AM on a Sunday. I didn't think that the videos were that graphic, but I guess some of the men and women thought that they were. One lady started swaying in her seat as soon as the discussion on C-Sections came up. So this swooning pregnant lady stands up to recover and that was the worst thing that she could have done and down she went. Let it be said that we should have taken a break while they got her comfortable and back in the world of the conscious. I believe that Daichi will be here sometime in early June. I guess we will just have to wait and see if my prediction comes true or not.  After Yuko and I got home around 3:00 PM today, we went for a nice long walk. I should have worn my hat as I get a sun burn so easy on my almost bald head. The Oakland Cemetery ( 1, 2, 3 ) is huge, aprox. 12 city blocks long and 2 or 3 blocks across, which makes for long walks and new photographic oppurtunites.  I took this photo in the Oakland Cemetery with my trust Zenit ET that I bought new for $23.00 + shipping on Fuji Superia 200 color film bought on e-bay.com for $.50 a roll.

Dave Marquis Zenit ET

 I found this cool bottle laying in the Oakland Cemetery on Monday May 10, 2004. I just got the pictures back a couple of days ago from Walgreen's and I am just getting aroung to scanning them.  

This weekend has been a busy one for me. Last night I attended a Metro Student Senate meeting that ran from 6:00 Pm until 830 PM. Today Yuko and went to the first day of a two day birthing class to prepare us for the upcoming event. Can anything really prepare me for the "shock and awe" that is about to take place? Yuko and I got to see what it is all about sans the censoring done on TLC (The Learning Cannel). I don't really know if Yuko is ready, but I am! I am growing closer and closer to Daichi everyday.  

This picture was taken with my trusty Zenit ET and Fuji Superia 200 color film.