Day 19 Beautiful Things

The purpose of this challenge is to take a moment to appreciate the beauty surrounding us. A few days ago, I shared a post about the beauty of a gift I received—a camera. I also included one of my favorite football pictures. Below is the story about one of the first pictures I took.

When I was young, my mother used to give each of her children a Christmas ornament every year. Some years, the ornaments had a similar theme. I remember a Wizard of Oz themed year and another year with a fairy tale theme, when I got a Puss-in-Boots ornament. My first ornament was a train, and I still have it.

When I was three or four, I received a football player ornament that became my favorite. Even now, it remains front and center on our tree, a reminder of Christmases past, present, and future. I took one of the first pictures with my new camera of this special ornament. Like me, it has aged. While some may not find it beautiful, it holds a special meaning for me. Sometimes, beauty is found in memories or photo albums.

Day 18 Beautiful Things

I consider myself lucky to work in an area with an abundance of dining options. Within just one block of my office, I have access to over 10 different eateries, offering everything from full-service restaurants to Mexican, pizza, cafes, burger joints, Irish pubs, Thai cuisine, and coffee shops. I usually opt to dine out for lunch and try to support local restaurants as much as I can. However, not every place suits my taste buds.

A beautiful meal requires a combination of food, presentation, service, atmosphere, and company. Today was my second trip to the newest restaurant near me, Bibisol. It is a small restaurant that seats no more than 30 people. I had the empanada and carot tinga. You can see it pictured above. Although I won’t be providing a food review, I will be adding this place to my regular rotation.

Day 17 Beautiful Things

As I was growing up, I developed a passion for photography. Even though I didn’t know much about the technicalities, I was always on the lookout for that perfect shot. Over the years, I drifted away from photography as it was expensive and time-consuming.

A couple of years back, I convinced my wife to get me a “fancy” camera for Christmas. Little did I know that this simple request would lead to me capturing some truly amazing moments of my youngest son tearing it up on the tennis court. From there, I found myself snapping shots of his teammates, and before I knew it, I was covering all sorts of sports action.

Ever since I received a camera as a gift seven years ago, I’ve been on a photographic journey, capturing nearly 200,000 moments. While most of the shots end up getting deleted, the ones that make the cut are shared with the players and parents completely free of charge. Economically, it doesn’t make much sense, and I don’t know if they enjoy it, but the joy I get from taking, editing, and sharing the pictures is priceless. I believe that if I were to do this on a regular commercial basis, some of the magic would fade away.

I’m really looking forward to the upcoming college fall sports season. I can’t wait to head out and capture some amazing moments with my new camera (similar to the photo at the top captured a couple of years ago). Photography has a way of beautifully capturing moments, and I’m excited to see what I can capture this season.

Day 16 – Beautiful Things

Over the weekend, my youngest son paid us a visit. Amidst the excitement of a wedding and catching up with his buddies, he managed to squeeze in some quality time with us. We even hit the golf course for a few rounds. While he’s now a better golfer than I am, we always have a playing together. It’s great to see him thriving and it’s even better to share these moments with him.

Day 15 – Beautiful Things

I’m currently in the midst of the Beautiful Things series, where I intentionally direct my focus towards the beauty that exists in our world. It doesn’t mean that I am disregarding the less beautiful aspects; I am simply taking the time to appreciate the breathtaking moments.

As I was scrolling through social media today, I was reminded of a significant event in my life – the tragic death of Thurman Munson. The day after Munson died in a plane crash, my father flew us to pick up my grandpa in Aberdeen. Then we proceeded to Minneapolis, where the three of us attended a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels.

I have three standout memories from that day, as it was my first major-league game. First, there was a moment of silence for Thurman Munson, with everyone standing in unity for a moment. Second, it was one of the first games Rod Carew played against Minnesota after being traded. He pinch hit late in the game and struck out looking. Third, it was a beautiful experience watching the game with my father and grandfather.

I have taken both of my sons to many sporting events, including baseball, football, and basketball. Currently, I am watching a baseball game. Sporting events have the power to create wonderful moments and memories for your loved ones. Also, the grass at a professional baseball stadium is amazing!

Beautiful Things Day 14

Today was an incredible day! While I was getting a haircut, I caught the last 24 laps of the 10000-meter race at the Olympics. It started out a bit slow, but let me tell you, the final two laps were absolutely breathtaking! It was a historic moment as an American athlete secured a medal, a feat only achieved for the third time in 60 years. And get this – 86-year-old South Dakota native, Bill Mills, who won gold in this event, was actually there at the event! It’s amazing to think about his incredible achievement. I even found a stunning video of his 1964 Olympic finish!

Day 13 Beautiful Things

The power of music is undeniable. It has the ability to transform our emotions, making us want to dance and sing. It even has the magical ability to transport us through time by triggering long-forgotten memories.

This year, one of my favorite singers released a new single. Billy Joel has been creating incredible music for over 50 years. His latest single “Turn the Lights Back On” is amazing. Lately, I’ve been really connecting with this particular song. It’s filled with meaningful messages and is just so beautiful. If you want to experience it, you can watch the video by clicking on the link above, or you can take it in by reading the lyrics posted below.

Lyrics

Please open the door
Nothing is different, we’ve been here before
Pacing these halls
Trying to talk over the silence
And pride sticks out its tongue
Laughs at the portrait that we’ve become
Stuck in a frame, unable to change
I was wrong

I’m late, but I’m here right now
Though I used to be romantic
I forgot somehow
Time can make you blind
But I see you now
As we’re laying in the darkness
Did I wait too long
To turn the lights back on?

Here, stuck on a hill
Outsiders inside the home that we built
The cold settles in
It’s been a long winter of indifference
And maybe you love me, maybe you don’t
Maybe you’ll learn to, and maybe you won’t
You’ve had enough, but I won’t give up
On you

I’m late, but I’m here right now
And I’m tryin’ to find the magic
That we lost somehow
Maybe I was blind
But I see you now
As we’re laying in the darkness
Did I wait too long
To turn the lights back on?

I’m late, but I’m here right now
Is there still time for forgiveness?
Won’t you tell me how?
I can’t read your mind
But I see you now
As we’re layin’ in the darkness
Did I wait too long
To turn the lights back on?

I’m here right now
Yes, I’m here right now
Looking for forgiveness
I can see as we’re laying in the darkness
Yeah, as we’re laying in the darkness
Did I wait too long
To turn the lights back on?

Day 12 Beautiful Things

Hey, check out these two amazing pictures! They capture the same place at different times. The top one was taken by me, and I couldn’t believe it when I saw the bottom one on Facebook yesterday. Both images are absolutely breathtaking. It just goes to show that you can find beauty anywhere, even on Facebook!

Day 11 Beautiful Things

I’ve previously posted this picture on my social media. However, I see this sculpture almost every day. It serves as a reminder of what matters: Be kind. Always.

Day 10 Beautiful Things

I was in downtown Minneapolis about a week ago for a meeting. While waiting, I looked out the window and saw Shindig. Although the name is still on the building, it has been closed for a couple of years, a victim of the pandemic and economic challenges. Most people only see it as an abandoned, closed event center.

It’s a charming venue with a small chapel-like room connected to a slightly larger event space with a bar. It would be perfect for a group of 50-100 people.

Even though most people pass by this place without giving it much attention, I always smile when I see it. It holds a special place in my heart because it’s where my oldest child got married just before the pandemic. It was a beautiful day with beautiful people, and I have so many wonderful memories from that day and that place.