Recording Life

It just occurred to me that it was 71 days ago when I decided to write 1 line every day to record the highlight of my life each day, even though sometimes it could be a very trivial little thing...

I am happy to report that I have been successful in doing that -- as of today, I have collected 71 lines in my Excel file.  As I reflect back on recent years, I have been rushing through life so much that I couldn't remember most of the details of my journey - good or bad, important or not.  I believe that some of the things may not seem to be significant right now, but 20-30 years from now, they may add tremendous amount of color to the final picture of my life! 

Recording life every day also helps me slow down, find time and patience to gather some of the long lost photos I took some years ago -- on my very much rushed journey...

Picture 1 = Canadian Rockies (4/2012)

Picture 2 = Winter Sunset at Lake Michigan (2/2015)

Picture 3 = Canadian Rockies (1/2016)

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From: Pei Tang <tang_pei@yahoo.com> To: Pei Tang <tang_pei@yahoo.com> Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2017 8:54 PM Subject: TED Talk: One Second Every Day

I watched this a long time ago.  Stumbled upon it again today and thought it was a pretty interesting idea...

https://www.ted.com/talks/cesar_kuriyama_one_second_every_day

How about the old-fashioned way of recording life?  One line of notes every day!  In fact, that's what I'm going to start doing -- just write one line each day capturing the most unique characteristic of the day...  I used to think my photo journals would do the trick, but maybe not quite... yet, as I really don't take a photo every day -- not to say that it can't be done!!   

1x Publication

It certainly takes patience and persistence to get your artwork published in one of the most prestige international photo galleries...

Attached is my 3rd publication in the 1x gallery.
  

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From: 1x Curator Team <curators@1x.com>  
To: tang_pei@yahoo.com  
Sent: Sunday, October 8, 2017 9:03 AM  
Subject: You just had a photo published! 

Dear PTang

We are happy to tell you that your photo "Winter Serenity" has been published in the 1x gallery. You can view it here: http://1x.com/photo/1408233

Only 5% of all photos uploaded to 1x are published.

Regards,

1x Curator Team

Trace of Time

Do these images make you wonder about the power of time?  The soft winds, warm sunshine and innocent rain drops can really accumulate over time to leave significant scars on anything... and everything.

Death Valley, California
February 27, 2016

 

29 years...

It just occurred to me that today, 9/19/2017, is my 29-year anniversary of being in this country.  I could not believe I was able to find the email below from 10 years ago... Time really flies!!

Looking back on the 29 years, I am not only thankful for the "opportunities" I've had in this country, but also truly grateful for life -- for everything I have experienced and everyone I have met along the way.

Thank you for being such good friends for so many years; thank you for teaching me to cherish every moment in life; and thank you for taking this amazing journey with me!  

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From: Pei Tang <tang_pei@yahoo.com>
To: Pei Tang <tang_pei@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 7:21 PM
Subject: 19 years... 

It was 19 years ago, on 9/19/88, I arrived in this country and started my life in America.  It's been a great experience.  Looking back, I am grateful for all the opportunities I have had over the past 19 years.  I am particularly thankful for all the help and support I received from my graduate school professor, Dr. Edwin Thomas, during the early and most difficult days of my long journey in America.

The following is an interview Michelle did for school when she was only 10.  I can say that it still accurately reflects my believe today.  

By Michelle Zhang

2/25/2001 

For this report, I interviewed my mother who immigrated to this country from China.  She, like most other immigrants, came here for more opportunities to be successful in her career.  She also wanted to provide a better life for her future children.  

She came here in 1988 as a graduate student.  Right before the trip to America, she was a graduate student in Beijing.  Her life was not as bad as some immigrants because she knew some English.  In her high school in China, she was taught the American Language.  She was a little scared of her new life she'd have to start.  She didn't know anyone and only had $45.  After the first few weeks, she came to realize that people here were open and friendly.    

Fortunately, she did not experience any racism and prejudice.  She made many American friends at her job and they all respect her a great deal.  She says she likes America because you have all kinds of opportunities, and if you work hard, you are sure to succeed.

The Art of Stillness

In the world of chaos, it's hard to find a little corner where the water is calm and leaves are still... However, it's the chaotic times when we truly need to find stillness in our hearts!

Willow Springs, IL
September 10, 2017

The 3rd photo is the reflection in the water -- that's how clear and calm the water was, just like a mirror!

The Great 2017 Solar Eclipse (2)

The solar eclipse frenzy continues...

Here is the time-lapse video I made from the 174 photos I took during the 175-minute solar eclipse.  I should have taken more photos so the quality of the video can be better.  But oh well, it captures the gist of the entire eclipse...  The dark moment in the middle of the video is during the totality.

https://youtu.be/ElXiW9wyMnY

Thank goodness for the upcoming LONG weekend -- I am going to shut down my phone along with all the social media craziness!!  Shut DOWN everything!!!

Enjoy your LONG weekend in whatever way your heart desires!

The Great 2017 Solar Eclipse

The 2017 solar eclipse event was a 38-hour ordeal, not counting the mentally stressful days leading up to 8/21/2017. 

Believe it or not, we did not decide on exactly where we were going until Saturday night. To ensure full flexibility to select viewing locations, we canceled the precious hotel room my good friend generously offered to us. Finally, around 10pm on Saturday night, we decided NOT to stay in the Chicago area.

Sunday, the action day, we continued monitoring the weather conditions all morning... until about 2pm, we finally selected 3 locations in Kentucky.

We left home around 5pm on Sunday to avoid heavy traffic, and arrived in Kentucky around 12am Monday morning. In the dark, we drove through all 3 pre-selected locations and settled in at Vista Ridge Park, Kuttawa, Kentucky. I never spend much time in Kentucky for the 29 years I've been in this country, but I have to say, summer nights in this little Vista Park was quite pleasant - humid but with occasional cool breeze; quiet but with crickets singing in the woods. In front of us, Cumberland River was running calmly and spaciously in the dark...  

Thank goodness, after all the evaluation and reevaluations, Monday turned out to be a clear day in Kuttawa, Kentucky. Almost no cloud, but hot and humid. My job was to manage 2 tripods, 2 professional cameras, plus my iPhone video during the 175-minute eclipse. There was sweat, sunburn and exhaustion... there were 456 photos and timelapse videos... However, nothing can replace the amazing experience during the 2-minute eclipse at totality and the 10 minutes before and after that. I have never experienced the surreal, sudden calmness in the air; I have never seen the shadows being distorted so strangely; and I have never heard so many dogs barking all at once in the middle of a nightly dark day... 

Driving home was far more than a nightmare! We left the park at 3:20pm on 8/21/17 and did not get home until 6:08am on 8/22/17. An usual 5-hour drive turned into a 15-hour drama... made you wonder why on earth everyone in the whole country decided to come out on Route 57!! The nightmare did not stop with the traffic jam. In the middle of the night, strong lightenings were everywhere lighting up dark skies and the horizon.  It was followed by strong storms and endless thunders... The whole thing was creepy to say the least, and it reminded me of an old Chinese saying about the solar eclipse - "the heavenly dog eating the sun!"

Nonetheless, we got home safe and sound... with our memorable experience of the 2017 solar eclipse. Enjoy the one and only photo I was able to produce! 

Kuttawa, KY
August 21, 2017