This is my special place. I post here for my own personal joy and fulfillment, as well as a release. It’s my own diary of sorts as I navigate my own aging process, as well as lessons learned during the final chapters of my parents’ life journey. I hope to bring awareness to the challenges of aging, as well as the beauty that’s often overlooked. As a society we often place emphasis on and recognize the beauty of youth, the shiny and the new – often failing to see the amazing beauty in the worn, the weathered, the imperfect. Things (and people) that were once useful or meaningful are now often cast aside or replaced. I want to honor this passing of time and remind us all of the beauty in imperfections, including the inevitable journey of our own aging body.
A photographer, a blogger, a world traveler
living in
Scottsdale, Arizona
and
The Upper West Side in Manhattan (NYC)
and
on the farm in my hometown of Roanoke, Virginia when visiting my elderly mother.
(the farm sold and my mom is currently in a nursing facility. updated 6/4/19.)
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So how did I get into photography after 30 years in the corporate world? Well it all started with realizing a life long dream of living in New York City. It started with just one year. One year to really live in the craziness of NYC. That was almost ten years ago!
Like so many others I started this blog to document and share with my friends and family why NYC. Why on earth would I want to live there. At the same time I was trying to find my identity. After 30 years in the corporate world, I was no longer a corporate executive. Who am I?
Along that same time my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and I used photography to escape and to help cope with losing someone who had been my best friend my entire life. He passed away in 2014. My mom now currently resides in a nursing home. Over the past two years I’ve dealt with in-home care and most recently a move to a nursing facility. So many lessons learned.
My love of photography continues to grow and I’ve found it’s my daily meditation. I get lost in the process. It’s in those moments of constant looking and seeing and finding beauty especially in the old and the worn…that I find peace, solitude and meaning in my life.
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Countries visited – so far:
Argentina – Buenos Aires, El Calafate, El Chalten, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia, Los Glaciares (Mt. Fitz Roy) Los Cuernos, Perito Moreno Glacier
Belgium – Antwerp, Brugge
Cambodia – Angkor, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Tonle Sap, Battambang
Canada – Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Quebec City, Montreal, Lake Louise, Banff, Prince Edward Island
Chile – Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine National Park, Puerto Natales
Ecuador – Quito, Cotopaxi National Park, Banos, Otavalo (lago San Pablo)
Finland – Aland
France – Paris, Reims, Nantes, Cholet, Loire Valley, Bourges, Lourdes, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Cannes, Bordeaux, Avignon, Lyon, Chartres, San Tropez, Pont du Gard
Iceland
India – New Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Hyderabad
Ireland – Dublin
Italy – Venice, Stresa, Bologna, Florence, Sienna, Portofino, Genoa, Como, Pienza, Volterra, La Spezia, Cinque Terre, San Gimignano
Laos, Luang Prabang
Mexico – Saltillo, Mexico City, Alcapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Taxco, Cabo san Lucas, Alamos, Monterrey, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Morelia, Capula, Quiroga, Tzintzuntzan, Santa Rosa, Dolores Hidalgo, Romita, Atotonilco, Patzcuaro, La Huerta, Oaxaca
Monaco
Morocco – Marrakech, Essaouira, Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert, Casablanca, Rabat, Fez, Khouribga, Boujad, Oued Zem, Chefchaouen
Myanmar – Bagan, Inle Lake, Mandalay, Yangon, Kalaw
Netherlands – Amsterdam, Hoorn, Gorinchem, Arkel, Culemborg, Wijk bij Duurstede
New Zealand – Auckland, Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Queenstown, Mt. Cook National Park, Nelson, Wellington, Milford Sound
Nicaragua – Managua, Jinotega, Wiwili, indigenous villages along the Rio Coco
Peru – Lima, Cusco, Yucay, Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientas, Urubamba, Chinchero, Pisaq
Portugal – Lisbon, Cascais, Fatima, Obidos, Sintra
Puerto Rico – San Juan, Rincon
Sweden – Stockholm, Uppsala
Switzerland – Grindlewald, Zermatt, Interlocken, Berner Oberland
Thailand – Bangkok
Turkey – Istanbul
Uruguay – Colonia
Vietnam – Hanoi, Mai Chau, Pa Co
Hi Girlfriend,
Following your blog. Looks like you are having a blast!
Love you
VA
Robin,
If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere! It’s up to you……..
Love ya,
Rich
Hi Robin,
You are an inspiration for all us. I am soooooooo proud of you.
You go girl. Life is to short and I am glad you are making your dream come true. Can’t wait to come and see you.
Love ya,
Nikki
Geeeezzzz, the ex-partner is the last to know about your Blog!!!!
No guilt trips from me. It’s fantastic! Almost as good as seeing you everyday.
Your happiness shows!
Love and hugs,
Norma
Oh My Goodness!!! Look at you. Your dream is finally coming true. Great Blog.
You are so happy. Can’t wait to join you for some fun in the city.
Good Luck!
Love Ya,
The Jersey Girl
Alexis
I’m trully amazed with the amazing job u are doing with this blog, it takes a lot of patience and persistence,,,
Always wishing you the best of the best, love you!
U keep koing seeker!
“son eze” ciao…
Hi there Broadway Baby;
Sent some actual photos from Eze’s Pizza party. You can
post it on you fridge or anywhere you like. Miss you!
R/D
Great Gotham Girl Googlimooglie!!!
Looks like a blast please send address–
what an adventure—-
miss you too—-
Hi Robin, looks like all is well. Jymme made me aware of the blog. Let me know how things are.
Hey you! So great to hear from you!!!! I think of you often. Still running the show there at GEHA??? 🙂 Let me know if you are ever in the city!!! Hugs, Robin
I was so far behind seeing your blogs. My how time flies!!
Loved seeing all of your travels etc.. Turkey, Vermont et al.
Seems like am busier than ever trying to get SOME business.
Am guest speaker for Florida NSA next month.. Oh, I spoke to the naked cowboy during NSA last year. I have conference
call with my NH client probably Monday and will then know
what week I will be up there. It is supposed to be in November.. Will let you know immediately so we can set a dinner date.
Seeing all your NYC blogs is so interesting and you now know
more than 90% of New Yorkers.
Miss ya,
Bj
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR NEW YORK ACCENT OVER SOME
CAWFEE TAWK
Hey Gotham Girl, love your website. You have a wonderful way with words that seem to encapsulate your feelings. so jealous of that trait in anyone. Anyway, glad you are enjoying NYC. Wish I could go to the New Leaf Cafe on New Years Eve! Keep spinning!! Miss your laugh.
Gotham Girl,
Keep up the good work!!! Let’s go browsing soon.
Ivette
Hi Robin – Just wondering if you’re still in NYC. That’s great that you were able to live your dream.
Yes, and enjoying every minute of every day! Glad to connect with you! Hope all is well with you and the family!
Hey girlfriend,
Love to have some of your pictures. Could you take some pictures on infant and children stores from New York. Love to add them in Neka Blogs.
Love ya,
Your becoming quite a photographer
Hey Robin! I am soooooo not shocked that you are in NYC! Remember our trip (with Chuck) some 20ish years ago….what a blast! Good for you!
Dena
Oh yes, how could one ever forget that trip! I think of it all the time. Great to hear from you!
Hi there..for some reason you popped in my mind very strongly recently so I stopped by to check out your news! I have spent the last hour enjoying your photography and stories of life in NYC! You have a wonderful eye and a great perspective..what a joy! Looks like you are very well! Hugs from CO.
So great to hear from you!!! Thanks so much for the nice comments. I hope you are doing well too! Are you traveling much? Would you happen to have been to Lisbon? Going in a few weeks and looking for “must-sees!” Hugs back at ya from NYC!
Hello, Just got to spend some long awaited time with a family member you may know? Susan Bright. If I was given the correct blog address :). Sue, told me about your blog and suggested I join. Please let me know if I have the correct blog?
Thank you,
J. Reynolds
You found me! Glad you two got to spend some time together and thanks for your interest in my blog!
Hi GG what a lovely person you seem to be…I too am passionate about bicycling…in fact I am one of a very few who bike all over Rome (an aquired skill)…wanted to tell that we just started a new blog on tango history…each day we post an event that
happened that day in tango history…it can be the birth of a famous singer,
composer of poet, the debut of a film or the recording of a famous tango song…
you can even search tango principles according to their sun sign
Can you help spread the word by letting your friends know about it or placing
a link on your blog…there is no advertising or money involved…we’re
not selling anything, we simply love tango and in particular tango history…we
welcome any suggestions…..
If you come to Rome, please let us know…we would be glad to welcome you
and show you around; my wife and I love meeting and being with people and you seem to be quite unique…thanks, have a
nice day…well here is the link http://todayintango.wordpress.com/
Oscar Wright and Maria Teresa Ruocco
66 via ovidio
00195 Rome, italy
Hm 06-45437139
Cel: 340-646-7159
Web Site: http://www.zentangodeoscarwright.com
Hi Oscar: I enjoyed viewing your blog! I can’t imagine cycling in Rome. It would make cycling in NYC look like a piece of cake! Made it to Florence, Vienna, Portofino, Stressa, Como, etc. but haven’t YET made it to Rome. LOVE Italy!
Love tango too. Saw firsthand when I visited Buenos Aires. I’ll be reworking my site at the beginning of the year and will help spread the word by placing a link to yours.
Thanks for visiting! gg
thank you so much for taking the time to respond….do come to Rome sometime to visit…we would love to meet you….we certainly will make you feel welcomed and taken care of…have a nice day
Robin,
I just stumbled uupon your blog and think it is wonderfull. Your photography really captures the beauty of the city. Makes me want to jump on a plane and check it out. Dawn and I always wanted to go there and will have to put it on the list. I will definitely keep tabs on this blog now that I know it is there.
Great to see you following your passions…..life is too short not to…..
Jim & Dawn
Thanks so much Jim for visiting and commenting! I hear a congrats is in order. Please tell Dawn hello from me. And yes, life is way too short not to!
Gotham Chronicles…wonderful gift…thank you…
And thanks again for the Trysette epic !!!
Hi Lanny, glad you enjoyed and thanks for signing up! One more fan, yeah!! Loved the last song you sent me. Need to send more!!!
Robin! Mike and I were on your rooftop last spring in AZ and heard about your NY life! WOW… I did a 100 mile 1 day bike ride from Carmel to the Hearst Castle along the PCH in September, so I think I am ready to join you on a bikeventure! We need to catch up! Enjoy…
So great to hear from you! Wow, I would love to do that ride! We must get together and chart a cycling trip and perhaps something else adventurous. You know where to find me for now…I will be in AZ during the entire month of January just in case you two are in and want to play! Thanks for checking out the blog!
Love, Love, Love the new blog! I think you did a fantastic job for being a newbie. Not so dim after all. Ha! Love you!
hi there., i love your all picture., I so want to make a blog about this., and I just created a blog about the beauty of nature.,
thsi my new blog : http://www.papandayan.tk
😀
Best regards
Djawa
from indonesia
Thank you Djawa from Indonesia for finding my blog and commenting on my photos! I’ll look forward to checking out your blog too!
Hi Robin,
Jut wanted to let you know I have nominated you for a Beautiful Blogger Award— (details and rules)
http://leblogdemarie.com/2012/08/10/things-that-make-me-smile-19/
Not to worry if awards aren’t your thing. I just wanted to give you a nod because I love you blog!
Have a wonderful weekend!
~M
Wow! Thank you!!!
Great work! Nice blog! Congrats!
Wish you and everyone on the eastern seaboard all the best as Sandy aproaches. Stay safe, Robin.
Best Regards,
Alex
Hey GG, Greetings from Marrakech have you drove your bike around in marrakech? i do, i do like your photography keep up the good work.
I was attracted by your Blog name, which bought a smile to my face. It’s great that you have mananged to have so many adventures after getting off the hampster circuit.What a great Blog it is. I love your photographs
I was visited your blog .. Thanks for visiting my country, Myanmar .Please let me share your photo in my facebook page.
Love your updated bio, Robin….
My beautiful gotham girl, mentor, inspiration, joy, and friend.
Thank you.
xoxo
My biggest fan…thank you so so much! xo♥️
Wow what a beautiful blog.
Hi dear Robin!
I am visiting your blog for the first time! You are a very talented Gotham girl
I love to read of the many places you have been to. I have many of those on my bucket list
Besos y abrazos
Gracie