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Category: Unofficial Voice (page 1 of 3)

Why I Marched

January 22, 2017 / claryc / 0 Comments

On January 21, my son, my mother and I participated in the Women’s March in Washington D.C. We made signs and braved a sea of protesters. I am a strong woman, but I wouldn’t consider myself the protesting type. So why go?

I think it was good ole women’s intuition. I was drawn to it. And well, maybe I am simply afraid.

Afraid of what may come next from Trump’s Twitter account.
Afraid of not seeing the day when women achieve the goal of equal pay for equal work (I really thought we were getting close on that one).
Afraid that my child will think that using hateful rhetoric to get ahead is in anyway acceptable.
Afraid that the feeling of nausea and dread that I’ve had since Trump won the election won’t go away.

The dread is still there, but the hope is back too. Bearing witness to the mass of people who stood up, squeezed in and braved overflowing port-o-potties to make it clear to the new administration that democracy is alive and well, and we will not, as many signs said, “go quietly back to the 1950s.”

“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” — Bob Dylan

Learn more about the Women’s March.

Home Sweet Home

December 13, 2016 / claryc / 7 Comments

Going to school as an adult is an interesting thing. I think the experience becomes less chase and race and more about simple exploration. Most recently I’ve had the opportunity to take a Photography class with the Harvard Extension School, and while all of the classes I have taken with Harvard have delivered some type of enrichment, this one came in a much more physical form. This is because few people want photos of my home or office, so to pass the class I needed to get out of my routine and explore the world around me.

I like to travel and explore, this time I kept it local and explored my home state of Florida. I wanted to see what I might find if I looked more closely. The images that follow are of several explorative days on the road with my trusty sidekick Candy Clary (my Mom).

I wish everyone took the time to simply drive around and observe. Maybe a few of my shots could encourage others to stop at a few rusty road side attractions.

Enjoy,
Chrissy

De Leon Springs, originally a sugar plantations built by slaves, turned road side attraction (with Water Skiing Elephants), turned State Park, features a natural swimming pool. The pool is spring fed and maintains a constant temperature of 72 Degrees Fahrenheit. Photo taken on Dec. 12, by Chrissy Clary.

Artist do their best to capture the beautiful day on the banks of the Silver Spring River. Photos taken on December 11, 2016 at Silver Springs State Park, By Chrissy Clary.

Slick fish bones collect on the river bank in Tarpon Springs Florida a town known for sponges and Greek food. Photo Taken on December 10 in Tarpon Springs Florida, By Chrissy Clary.

While the Mermaids of Wiki Wachee are unforgettable Manatee sightings are pretty special too. This baby was hanging out with with the rest of her pod in the safety of the state park. Once upon a time manatee were thought to be mermaids so it is fitting that they would find a safe spot at Wiki Wachee springs, a place made famous for turning beautiful girls into underwater performers. Photos taken Dec. 12, 2016 at Wiki Wachee Springs State Park, FL, by Chrissy Clary.

For a short time when she was a child my mom lived in a town called Wiki Wachee Springs. If you have never heard of the place, In its hey day it was a pretty big deal. This small, Florida roadside attraction features an underwater stage where guests sit and watch women dance like mermaids might dance. In the 1960 millions of people attended shows, but today the the park is a shadow of its former self. Interestingly the ladies performing were were not those who appear on the Wiki Wachee Website, they were a group of former Mermaids who ranged in age from 50 something to 71. Photos taken Dec. 12, 2016 at Wiki Wachee Springs State Park, FL, by Chrissy Clary.

Indian Summer Behives collect yummy honey. The Indian Summer Honey company migrates from Florida to Wissconsin and then back again to take advantage of prime honey making weather. Photo taken on December 11, 2016, at Indian Summer Honey Farm, by Chrissy Clary.

Indian Summer Beehives collect yummy honey. The Indian Summer Honey company migrates from Florida to Wisconsin and then back again to take advantage of prime honey making weather. Photo taken on December 11, 2016, at Indian Summer Honey Farm, by Chrissy Clary.

This De Leon Springs Park Ranger takes a break to catch up on the news while she waits on her next group of boat passengers. Photo taken December 11, 2016, at De Leon Springs State Park, by Chrissy Clary.

The Kid Snorkels in the Florida Keys

September 11, 2010 / claryc / 0 Comments

There is something about the Keys…

I remember my first time riding south on the Overseas Highway. I counted the mile markers with growing excitement as the landscape evolved into a seascape decorated with tacky storefronts and fishing boats.

Moving from Florida City into the Keys the pace of things slows, going from hustle to something short of sluggish. The place has changed little since my first trip, now 20 years ago.

This time I took the kid and I could hardly contain my glee as he did his own mile marker countdown. We snorkeled off Key Largo, his first time bathing in the warm green waters. We perused the local art on display at the Rain Barrel. We had ice cream at CJ’s. And we poked around the waters edge, scattering the fiddler crabs.

Having a child allows you to experience the fantastic parts of life all over, and although I have always loved the Florida Keys I don’t think I ever connected with the area like I did with my Kid in tow.

The best $15 I spend each week

Dancing at the laundromat, www.nataliedee.com

My head is swimming a bit today. In a semi random occurrence I was selected to assist with President Obama’s visit to Kennedy Space Center.

I also received a call about a Naval Reserve Application package I submitted. I thought the application was dead in the water but they (the NAVY) called and asked if they could resubmit it.

Then there was the followup call about a proposal I submitted for an online marketing plan to the City of Daytona Beach (they are totally interested, very cool).

Photos: Guanacaste, Costa Rica’s Gold Coast

April 13, 2010 / claryc / 0 Comments

Beauty

This is a collection of images I captured while visiting Costa Rica in 2009. The images were taken in the North Pacific Region, or the Guanacaste Region (map).

“Guanacaste is known as Costa Rica’s “Gold Coast.” And it’s not because this is where the Spaniards found vast quantities of the shiny soft metal ore. Instead, it’s because more and more visitors to Costa Rica are choosing Guanacaste as their first — and often only — stop. Beautiful beaches abound along this coastline. Some are still pristine and deserted, some are packed with a mix of hotels and resorts, and others are backed by small fishing villages. Choices range from long, broad stretches of sand to tiny pocket coves bordered by rocky headlands.” Excerpted from Frommer’s Costa Rica 2009 Continue reading

Chrissy Clary

ponder. conspire. digitize.