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January 4, 2012

I found myself dealing with a slight touch of sadness last Thursday.  I realized that, after reading the final entry of the “Imaginary Family Project, 2011” there would be no more entries.  No more stories created to bring the characters in forgotten photos to life, with new dealings, new thoughts and new nuances.

In order to deal with my slight touch of sadness, I sent my brother who created this series an e-mail.  I think it had the word, “Wahhhh…” within the text somewhere.

So now that the project is over, I’m thinking about it.  I’m thinking about each photo, each author, the author’s writing style and plot, and what might have gone into influencing that particular story line.

Some of the stories I really, really liked.  When I finished the story, I smiled.

Others I appreciated but something about them didn’t fit my reading interest much.  I argued in my head with the twist or the approach or the character’s action…as would anyone with literature outside their niche interest area.

And others stuck with me for several days.  A few I wanted to hear more about.  And a few, I wanted to hear a great deal more about.

As I think back through the fifty-two entries in the Imaginary Family Project, I have a few thoughts I decided I’d like to share with you.

First, I wanted to thank the creator and organizer of the project, Quentin Bomgardner.  It took a great deal of work to find volunteer authors, help them select “the” photo they wanted to write about, get the story in by deadline and communicate with the author throughout the process.  Sometimes it was downright difficult – occasionally authors would change their mind.  That’s a fair choice, for sure, but rough to work with when putting out a story every week.

Second, I was especially glad to see the project get picked up and noticed by an art group, and by one of the interested parties connected to the Library of Congress.  And, although most of the authors were from Oklahoma, we had quite a few from other states covering the expanse of both coast lines.

Finally, I want to THANK the authors.  Each and every one of you created new life for these photographs and have helped them live on when they might have otherwise been forgotten or tossed by the wayside.  The characters are now “living” all over the U.S. with histories, flaws and hopes…and they cannot be taken back. [Read More...]


Thumbnail image for The 2011 Imaginary Family Project – Week 52

December 28, 2011, quentinhereandthere

Ennis lived and died broke, but he was never not happy. more...


Thumbnail image for The 2011 Imaginary Family Project – Week 51

December 26, 2011, quentinhereandthere

His formative years included World War II when all the resources of the United States were dedicated to the war effort and the subsequent boom years when the men and women involved in the war came home. His world consisted almost entirely of the events and experiences in his hometown and he experienced both austerity and plenty. This was a good time and place for a young boy to grow up. more...


Thumbnail image for The 2011 Imaginary Family Project – Week 50

December 21, 2011, quentinhereandthere

I knew Eddy from St. Peter’s, a private school for boys in Clinton, MI. We were introduced behind the maintenance shed where some of the students would hang out and share cigarettes, adult magazines, alcohol, and whatever else they had managed to smuggle back from their weekend trips home. more...


Thumbnail image for The 2011 Imaginary Family Project – Week 49

December 14, 2011, quentinhereandthere

“Look happy!” Cleo Cliffords knelt down. He pointed the Brownie at little Raymond and Sadie. They looked happy, because they were happy. They played all the time and giggled and really liked each other. It was the one lucky thing in Cleo’s life — his kids were ignorant. more...


Thumbnail image for The 2011 Imaginary Family Project – Week 48

December 7, 2011, quentinhereandthere

I didn’t understand why Mom wanted to stop there. She just pulled the car over into the hard sand next to that deserted road that was taking us south from the Oregon woods of my childhood to the California desert I have spent the rest of my life in. She didn’t trust Joey with the camera and Grandma insisted she wasn’t touching the new-fangled gadget, so it was up to me to snap the photo that Mom wanted to remember this moment by. But what moment? more...


Thumbnail image for The 2011 Imaginary Family Project – Week 47

November 30, 2011, quentinhereandthere

Well, she actually sent it. She sent it to my office. I’d never given them my home address. They’d never asked, not that I care. I don’t even understand why I’m even thinking about this. I was sure I’d put them behind me. But, looking at this picture of my ‘family’, I do feel something. I’ve considered waking Nzhinga. She’s great at this sort of thing. I’m not. more...


Thumbnail image for The 2011 Imaginary Family Project – Week 46

November 23, 2011, quentinhereandthere

#46 of 52 : HER AUNT External Photo Clues: None Imagine: The sun was bright but the air was cool as it blew in across the ... more...


Thumbnail image for The 2011 Imaginary Family Project – Week 45

November 16, 2011, quentinhereandthere

Most people thought him crazy or just dismissed him completely but my brother and I could see a glimmer of truth in old man Dalton’s eyes as he rambled. A clever man, disillusioned by the many tales he told – so much so that the lines blurred between fantasy and reality. Then again, where better to hide the truth than amongst several tall tales, protecting it from the distracted masses where only the most passionate seekers would glimpse it and take hold. more...


Thumbnail image for The 2011 Imaginary Family Project – Week 44

November 9, 2011, quentinhereandthere

“Can I get a drink for me and my dog?” asked MP, “I’m spittin’ dirt clods I’m so dry and dusty and my dog’s tongue is so dry I can strop my razor on it.” I didn’t have much humor offered so freely to me so I chucked and said, “Sure, follow me.” more...


Thumbnail image for The 2011 Imaginary Family Project – Week 43

November 2, 2011, quentinhereandthere

Harry stepped forward, then back, to the right and then to the left. He wanted to frame the photo just right. “This is the first day of the rest of your life!” he said to Debbie. more...

Ann and Harry had been married for almost 2 years when Debbie was born. Harry doted on Debbie. He named her after his mother. Debbie came early and was sickly. Harry took his job as her father, her protector seriously. Ann didn’t know what to do, but she did her best to take care of her. more...