My Daily Photo Walk: A Matter of Trust

November 16, 2015 • Leave a Comment

(Click any photo to enlarge; hover mouse over photo for caption.)

As I do my walks, I am always running scenarios through my head of what the blog entry will say. Today I was in a bit of a rush to get to a meeting, so I parked at Shab Row and walked along East Street, following some alleys and side streets as I found them.

While walking down Winpigler Alley, there was an open window above, and I heard the news coming from a television. There was a commentary about how the French will not let terrorism win -- they won't live in fear. I know that we echoed the same sentiments after 911. We let the terrorists win if we live in fear.

Hearing that commentary as I was walking really made me think. There are many ways our trust in our safety has been broken, and yet we have no choice but to trust. I trust that when I drive through an intersection, other drivers will obey the traffic signals. When I make salad with lettuce and cucumbers, I trust that the vegetables have not been contaminated with salmonella. When I pick up a prescription, I trust that the pharmacist has given me not only the correct medication, but the proper dosage information.

16 - East St. 3

16 - East St. 4

All of the examples I cited have been in the news for violations of that trust: drivers run red lights; contaminated food causes illness; medical mistakes cause death. But these examples don't deter me from driving, or eating salad, or taking a medication.

The terrorism acts recently committed will not stop us (or the French) from flying, from attending soccer games or concerts, or even from sitting outside at a sidewalk cafe. We let the terrorists win if we change our way of life and sacrifice our freedom of choice, of travel, or our ways of living.

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While these thoughts may not directly relate to my photo walks, in small ways, there is a lot of trust involved in doing what I do. I trust that drivers will obey the red light when the pedestrian crosswalk sign tells me it's safe to step off the curb (but I always look both ways). I trust that no one I encounter will accost me for my camera or my purse. As I walk through wooded areas and fields, I trust that wild animals are more afraid of me than I am of them. Most of all, I trust that there are readers out there who look forward to and faithfully read my blog and look at my photos. It is because I live in a free country that I am even able to walk where I want and photograph what I see and write freely about my experiences every day.

Acts of terrorism destroy our trust in many things. May they not destroy our resolve to remain free and live free.

All photos in “My Daily Photo Walk" are for sale upon request.

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My Daily Photo Walk: A Matter of Trust

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