Last of Your Springs 2021 001
by Michael Genevro
Title
Last of Your Springs 2021 001
Artist
Michael Genevro
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
The Last of Your Springs 2021 Series
Donald Kennedy, the former President of Stanford University, used to conclude his annual commencement addresses with the following passage:
"Your days are short here; this is the last of your springs. And now in the serenity and quiet of this lovely place, touch the depths of truth, feel the hem of Heaven. You will go away with old, good friends. And don't forget when you leave why you came."
The words came from the conclusion of a speech by Adlai Stevenson to the senior class at Princeton University at the dawn of Spring in 1954, on March 22. The Princeton Alumni Weekly noted the context of these words in the speech: “Laying aside his completed text, Mr. Stevenson spoke extemporaneously and with obvious emotion.” Wow! I am in awe - “extemporaneously.”
I envy the Stanford graduates who heard these farewell words from Kennedy in the bright sunlight and warmth of Stanford's Frost Amphitheater. I cannot remember anything that the speakers said at my 1970 graduation from Stanford.
Sadly, the last of Donald Kennedy's Springs came in the pandemic of 2020. He died of COVID-19 on April 21, 2020 at a residential care facility in Redwood City, California.
“The last of your Springs” - these words are constantly on my mind in late February 2020 as I search for signs of Spring in my little world of downtown Menlo Park. The pandemic year has taken so much from all of us. However, for me personally, “the last of your Springs” links to the impending sale of my Grandfather's house on Santa Cruz Avenue, part of a major life transition through which I am passing.
Unless the new owner allows my family to rent the house, this could be the last of my Springs in my little downtown world.
It is likely that the fifth generation of my family to live here will be the last generation to live in my Grandfather's house.
It is likely that for the first time in 100 years a member of my family will no longer live in Menlo Park.
The approach of Spring and the fullness of its blossoming are my favorite times of the year. During the past thirteen years or so, I have photographed the blossoms of my neighborhood thousands and thousands of times. I visit the same trees each year and track their vernal passages. I go from one moment of wonder to another as the sun flashes against the new growth.
This year, I feel a deep sadness about my likely departure from my Grandfather's house. This will probably be the last of my Springs with the plum blossoms across from Draeger's, with the tulip magnolia tree of my late Mother's friend Lydia, with the cherry blossoms of the Senior Center, and with the dogwoods of Nealon Park.
However, along with the sorrow, I also experience the utter wonder and beauty of the world around me at this moment, and I treasure the new vistas that arrive even in a year of loss.
Yesterday, February 26, I received my first COVID vaccine at a pharmacy in Palo Alto - a chance for a new life for me. As I exited from the train in Menlo Park, I noticed the plum tree near the bike locker in full bloom. I had never visited that particular tree. I reveled in photographing dozens of the blossoms, even with the macro functionality of my inexpensive camera.
It all passes so quickly. It all passes so quickly. Even if “this is the last of your springs," embrace the moment; treasure the Beauty of Life.
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This collection contains a series of images of the plum blossoms of the Menlo Park train station on February 26, 2020.
Last of Your Springs 2021 001
Date of Original Photo: 2021-02-26 [Friday]
Original Photo File Name: IMG_8890.JPG
Source File for This Post: IMG_8890_lastOfYourSprings_2021_001.png
Software Tool: Adobe Photoshop
Uploaded
February 28th, 2021
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