The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Thursday, September 1, 2011

All creatures great and small...

Yesterday was the blessing of the animals, a long standing tradition on the last day of August.  Many animals and their human companions gathered to hear the priest's words of benediction and to be liberally showered with holy water. 

The event, which occurred late in the afternoon at the Templo de Nuestra Señora de la Merced was really something with lots of photographers and media.

In this shot you can see the droplets of holy water.  We all got really blessed if the amount is any factor, not quite soaked, but pretty wet.

My fellow blogger spixl showed up early and watched and waited as it all unfolded. 

People arrived with their pets,

many of whom were dressed for the occasion.

This gentleman with his birds was a big hit.

Even turtles and a few fish were there.

Do I look like I need a blessing?

Always fun to see pets and their owners.

In all shapes and sizes,

A whole lotta cute out there
 
A lot,

I was hoping for burros and oxen, but maybe they were somewhere else.  Still, there were some chickens,

happy to be blessed.

We talked about the weird dichotomy in Mexico between humans and pets.  I understand that they could not have Christian names, because they have no souls, but here they were getting blessed.

1 comment:

Sonya Melescu said...

Nice images, I know you enjoyed photographing the dogs.