Non-Fiction Writing | Painting With Light

Archive for the ‘Non-Fiction Writing’ Category

Sanctuary

May 26, 2009

“Sanctuary” © R.L. Herron

Today is a critical day in determining whether General Motors ultimately files for bankruptcy on Monday. GM bondholders must decide whether to accept an offer to swap debt for a ten percent ownership in the company.

It’s also the day UAW officials meet to hear more details about a new tentative labor contract. The union, being asked to exchange money owed to a retiree health care trust for a 39% ownership stake in GM instead, is expected to pass the deal.

That’s because there’s a general consensus that the union is between the proverbial “rock and a hard place.”

Despite that, many experts view Chapter 11 bankruptcy for GM as all but a certainty, saying they are doubtful bondholders will accept GM’s offer.

Which brings me around to the rest of us.

Is the general public going to take anything away in the form of better, safer, fuel-efficient vehicles? Or when all is said and done, and fuel prices drop, are they going to clamor for large SUV’s again and wonder why no one provides them?

Are the financial institutions, who are the real instigators of all the economic mess, finally going to start releasing funds for loans again? Where is the economy going? Is it all really a huge conspiracy to deprive and suppress the middle class?

It gives me a royal headache to read the news anymore. I think I’ll just grab my cameras, say a prayer or two, and look for some sanctuary of my own. Perhaps with my writing.

Posted in Non-Fiction Writing, Storytelling | 4 Comments »

A Precipitous Step

May 15, 2009

“Amalfi Coast” © R.L. Herron

I was looking through a collection of images I had taken a few years ago, when I came across this shot along the Amalfi coast in Italy.

At first, it was just another picture of an interesting place I’d been. But the more I looked at it, the more I thought about the current economic meltdown and the effect it’s having on so much of what we have taken for granted for so long.

Actually, I think I was pondering those things when I stumbled across the picture again, and it just gave me a reason to talk about them.

We’ve all been living in a idealized world. A picture postcard. A pretty view. But the grand view has a precipitous step to it and we, being human, sometimes don’t see the downside of things until we miss that first long step.

However, I’d also like to think that we, being human, have the ability to make the view “pretty” again and learn to enjoy life once more.

Like those folks who have lived along this steep Amalfi coastline for generations, who understand the possibilities inherent in that drop-off, but who also appreciate the beauty around them.

Posted in Lifestyle, Non-Fiction Writing | 2 Comments »

Dream

April 20, 2009

“Photographer Working” © R.L. Herron

I’m actually writing this while thinking about my photographer son. He surprised me years ago by announcing, out of the blue, he wanted to study photography. He’d never shown any particular inclination toward it. He didn’t even own a camera.

Thankfully, I encouraged him and his web site now tells it all. He believed in himself. He studied hard and is very good at his craft. A recent event brought my act of encouragement home to me again, and reminded me how important someone’s belief in you can be.

Let me set the scene:

You’re a dowdy 47-year-old from Northern England.* “Never been married, never been kissed.” No love in your life. No job. No luck. But you have a gift within you. And you know it. You’ve somehow managed to make your way onto a TV Show called “Britain’s Got Talent” and you are now standing on a national stage.

The crowd is hooting with derision. The judge on the left is snickering at you. Simon Cowell is rolling his eyes. Everybody is pretty much certain you’re going to crash and burn in a way that will be hilarious to all.

You’ve “never been given a chance before,” and it’s pretty easy for everybody to understand why. You’re an odd-looking lady and they are serving you up to laughing wolves for the sake of the television audience. This is going to be funny.

What do you do?

Well, if you’re my new personal hero Susan Boyle, you wrap your hands around the microphone, slowly focus and then sing your song to the rafters. You lift your voice to the heavens. You give a life-defining performance and sing an audience of millions into tears.

You hit your high note and bring a lump to the throat of the judges. You bring the audience to their feet as they realize they can’t possibly reach their hands high enough in the sky to applaud you.

You inspire a planet. You knew you had the gift within you. You just needed to be given a chance. That’s all you ever wanted and when you got your chance, you shined brighter than any starlet or supermodel ever could.

I know I’ve learned a very important lesson from both my son, and Susan Boyle. One it’s often easy to forget …

Dream Your Dream.

*Many thanks to Wigan Blue, who corrected me.
Susan Boyle is from Scotland.