Wednesday, June 9, 2010

How Could "U"?

Well Alphabe-Thursday friends we are nearing the end of a long journey. Before we reach our destination we have a few interesting 'hills' to climb. This weeks assignment, the letter "U" is one of those uphill challenges.

I traveled by dictionary from Uaupes to Uzbekistan and via the Concordance from Unbelief to Uzziah, yet I floundered in indecision. I found myself Uninspired. You would think that with two University degrees I could figure a way to undue, to unravel this unmistakable dilemma that was undermining my ability to complete my assignment. You "u", you "u", you "u"...what is there in "u" for me? Should I wax poetic? Will I have to pull a rabbit from a hat? What can I photograph? Am I running out of creative juices?

As I traveled by dictionary, I found an enormous number of "Uns"...as in uninspired...almost all of them complete downers. These "Uns" quickly segue to the "Ups"...as in uplifting. Well, I thought, "I am a sucker for uplifting". Still, nothing, nada...I was wallowing in an uninspired funk.

" The unrighteous unbelievers, unified in their uncircumcised, ungodly unbelief..."

Downer, downer, downer...The Concordance was of little help...far more "Uns" than other prefixes...way to dark. So much for religion pulling me out of my uninspired funk. But wait! There is one "un" word there on that page, mired in the muck of "uns", struggling to free itself like a dove caught in a snare. A good "unword", close to my heart...Understand? That's it! Understand.

So it is... with this newly liberated word that I will begin this unbelievably unique journey (I know, I know you were hoping, praying that this was coming to an end).

I once participated in a six-week long, mind/body wellness group. One night the subject of love came up in discussion. The question was proffered, "what is love", and can you easily and in few words describe love? I thought about it for a few moments and decided that love is measured in the willingness, perhaps outright desire, to understand another person. That out of the desire to understand will come a relational experience and, if we are lucky, love will blossom. Understand?

So, all that is sounding pretty good so far, but how can I photograph understanding? Perhaps not directly...perhaps only in a backdoor fashion vis a vis the relational experience as I have attempted to exhibit in the first two photographs below. These two photographs are part of a series I am working on titled, "A Bridge to Love", with all shots taken on or from Chattanooga's Walnut Street pedestrian bridge.

playing my Ukulele while overhead
a UFO travels to Uranus
All the while pondering the Umbel-like flowers
of the blunt-leaved milkweed, while
the HappyMrsC plays my Ute drum
with Utilitarian Utensils.
Whew! What a journey! Maybe "V" will be easier...

Thanks much for your visit. I know it was not easy. Please take the time to visit Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday and take in the unbelievable posts to be found there.
Jenny Matlock

32 comments:

  1. As USUAL, you have a wonderful and thoughtful post! U work so hard to make them unique and I am so proud to be Tennessee Mudbug's Wife!!! Great job!

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  2. Well U was easy for me. But once again you are the one with all the unusual words. I love that bridge photo with all the blue.

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  3. I love all the u's. The utensils are a great drum stick. The understanding photos are wonderful.

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  4. Jeff, Jeff, Jeff! You have the most unique mind! I love this post and I also love your photos...that bridge in Chattanooga is awesome. I really do UNDERSTAND!

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  5. Loved your final choice for U. This looks like a great photo series, really like the blue bridge. I'm afraid that my post this week is a bit of a downer, but it's something that I feel very strongly about. Kathy

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  6. You did come up with a lot of U words, wow. Your six week group experience sounds like it was very interesting. Beautiful pictures as usual. Great U post.

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  7. Some letters are ubiquitous and unmoving but U did a good job finding soemthing unique! :-)

    The bridge photos are wonderful!

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  8. Jeff, I just really enjoyed this post! You are sooo creative and I enjoyed the photos as well. Thanks for sharing.
    Loretta

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  9. Jeff that was great - my favorite U word part of the post was the understanding trip...what a trip!

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  10. we chose the same word to right about ... Your post was excellent ... loved that you used so many U words ... (not i) ... wonderful post as always Jeff!

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  11. That was a brilliant post A++++ from uk . I have no idea what we will do in 5 weeks when this journey is over dreading it .

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  12. Good Morning Mudbug!

    I agree--"U" was a difficult word for me too! It turned out to be a fabulous one for you. There are too many things in this world to even try to "understand" but I think you are correct in your assumption about love.

    Great pics...thanks for sharing with us today! I always enjoy your words of wisdom.

    Have a great Thursday and wonderful weekend!

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  13. Undeniably Creative~ love your milkweed shot & the shadow of Mrs. C's utensils :-)

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  14. great U photos! I like the Ukulele!

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  15. Hi Jeff! As Usual an Unbelievably Unexpected U post!

    Happy Alphabe-Thursday!

    LOLA:)

    PS Mine this week is HERE. Hope you can join me!

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  16. Great post as usual, Jeff. Your photos always amaze me. Love the bridge shots. Super! ~ Sarah

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  17. What a grreat U post. Your words and photographs look so good.

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  18. Jeff! I loved this stop. AND you play the ukulele? How fun! I hack a bit at guitar, piano and mountain dulcimer.

    How could you possibly think for one second that your creative juices are drying up!

    You perpetually amaze and astound me. I'm wondering if you have a single brother. I have so many friends who would totally love to meet a guy like you!

    That bridge series is going to be neat. I really like how you capture emotion with a single click of the shutter.

    A+

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  19. I doubt v will be easier, I'm already worried about it. Great u post, though!

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  20. Well your wonderful wife and yourself pulled me out of my "not sure what to use for U" quandary. I am glad you were able to pull it off also. Great post.

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  21. Wait a minute...Mrs. C is your wife? I am utterly confused....I can understand now...makes sense...very cool post Jeff...you are very unique and I can understand any wife being very happy to have you...Peace out Jeff!!~

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  22. Those 'un' words - downers, for sure! I like your upbeat u's. Great post!

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  23. Un was the only way I could use U myself. Thanks for stretching the use of the alphabet.

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  24. Sorry you struggled so much with U. I do love that you chose understand coupled with love as your main theme. And your photos were great fun to behold.

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  25. Yea! Ukelele playing! Love that. And do you know how amazing it is to not just see a UFO, but capture it on film? I had no idea they looked so much like frisbees!

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  26. I really enjoyed your post! Great photos too.

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  27. Mudbug, you just crack me up! Great U post! Aplus I must say!

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  28. HA!!! that was great...love the UFO and the Utensils :)

    Susan

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  29. is that really you with the ukulele? that would rule! or should i say...ule :) i love your definition of love...i have been asked that question before, and i don't think i was quite as profound....once again, your photos are amazing...i especially like the bridge picture with the bright blue...it looks so happy.

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  30. U was not easy. I liked your journey with the letter this week. Thanks for taking me along.

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  31. Sunday June 12th, 2010
    Dear Jeff,
    What a beautifully poetic and funny U-text! You pulled it off! You even got an UFO in. I was thinking about UFOs, but didn't know how to do it visually!
    Thanks for your kind words on my U-post. (I have already started gathering V-words!)
    Best wishes,
    Anna
    For the benefit of other readers:
    Anna's U-words

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