rebecca soble

Neither of these images is what I would call a great picture in terms of photographic aesthetics, but I love them anyway. For me, they capture the essence of their setting perfectly and evoke a lot of positive feelings in me.

I like the crow picture because it makes me think about the wonderful quiet and peace you can find so easily in the country. Not by visiting and taking scenic pictures, but by living there and experiencing the open space and seasons and wildlife. It also reminds me how much I love the beauty of the small things in the country — wildflowers by the roadside, weathering fences, a single bird soaring in the sky.

I took the picture below while walking through Times Square at night. It had to be a quick picture, because standing still in the middle of the sidewalk was just not acceptable. I’ve taken lots of pictures in New York but none captures the energy of the city as this one does. I love the challenge of the city streets and the confidence that comes from just making it through. I love the incredible variety of people, and the crazy things they do and say. I love how you can still experience the centuries of history crammed into this little island. I love how there’s always new ideas coming, mental firings stimulated just by walking the streets and watching what’s happening around you.

I adore the peaceful minimalism of the country, I revel in the high-energy overstimulation of the city. I have not yet found anything to love about the suburbs.

I am reading and reading. And then more. Here’s a partial list.

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant. Historical fiction about the wives and daughter of Jacob. I would have read it in one sitting if I could have stayed awake. Written with elegance and warmth at a deliciously slow pace. An inspiration to appreciate being female and the strength of community that can exist among women.

Subwayland: Adventures in the World Beneath New York, by Randy Kennedy. This is a collection of columns Kennedy wrote about the NYC subway for the New York Times. Entertaining, educational and eclectic: just as the subway is itself. Makes me want to get my MetroCard back in action.

Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. Subtitled The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, this book had me giggling and snorting through paragraphs on improper apostrophe usage. It reassured me that I do use commas correctly after all — though, unlike most Americans, I prefer to eschew the Oxford comma — and encouraged me in the true usefulness of the colon (see paragraph above). A delightful education.

From Beirut To Jerusalem by Thomas L. Friedman. A slightly less delightful education, but exceedingly worthwhile. Friedman, an international correspondent for the New York Times writes about his experiences as a journalist amid the political happenings in Beirut and Jerusalem during the turbulent 80’s, with ample views backward and outward when necessary. If you’re American and trying to understand the Middle East, this book is an excellent start. Good luck to you, and please explain it to me when you’ve figured it out.