the most important pictures

The Robinson clan lost our patriarch earlier this year.  In preparation for his memorial service in California last month, I poured through my archives - digital and negative - for images of my grandfather.

In any given year, the ratio of assignment work to personal/familial images is staggering.  Among the millions of files, I came up with a few dozen of his face.  Those meant more to me than the soccer matches, holiday parades, dance recitals, portraits - the litany of daily work that I had so dutifully archived.

My favorite is a photo I took of him when I was just out of high school.  I was visiting California from Texas and we took a day trip to Half Moon Bay.  My grandfather, the progenitor of my sweet-tooth, ordered a root-beer float that wasn't on the menu.  "You have root-beer and ice cream, don't you?" he asked the waiter with his sly smile.  After haggling over the price of the new item, we settled in a window seat, victorious.

I knew it on some level before, but these are the most precious images to me.  The ones that pull love and memory from me at a glance.

We gathered in California to say one last 'aloha' to my grandfather - fleeting moments of togetherness for our far-flung family.

My father plays with his oldest granddaughter.

My brother and his youngest daughter en route to the 

memorial service on San Francisco Bay.

My brother tries on my grandfather's hat.

My niece plays with her great-grandmother.

Bowie Softball for the Statesman

The Bowie Bulldogs had a great season in 2010, finishing second in state. I had the pleasure (and stress!) of covering their amazing come-from-behind victory against San Antonio Taft.

Filing for the Saturday morning deadline can be a harrowing experience when it comes to prep sports - late start times and the ability of any team to rise from the dead means the story can change on a dime.  I turned in pictures of what looked to be the 3-0 rout by Taft at deadline. The reporter and I joked that our jobs were done for the night unless a miracle happened.

In the bottom of the sixth, the miracle happened.

Bowie put up five runs and held Taft scoreless in the seventh, advancing them to the state tournament. I hustled to get the sports desk images of the story's 180 in time for the print edition. We just squeeked by.

 Bowie's Sarah Cardona, left, and Katy Akins, right, play an agility game of Ninja before the start of Friday's playoff against San Antonio Taft.

Bowie star pitcher Amy Sundahl gave up a double and a home run for three runs in the third inning against the Taft Raiders during the 5A Region 4 playoffs at the Texas State Bobcat Softball Stadium in San Marcos, Texas on Friday May 28, 2010.

(Left) Bowie catcher Jaime Edwards gets focused before the start of Friday's game against Taft. (Right)Bowie's Sarah Cardona (4), right, keeps the team pumped up during five scoreless innings against Taft.

(Left) Bowie's Maddie Lionberger (12), ties the score at 3-3 in the sixth inning during a five run rally by the Bulldogs. (Right) Bowie third baseman Alli Akina, left, is hugged by teammate Maddie Lionberger, center, after making the final out during the 5A Region 4 playoffs. The Bulldogs, down by three runs, scored five in the 6th inning and held on to defeat the Raiders and advance to the 5A State Championship Playoffs.

Jared Muston for the Dallas Morning News

"Ride for 8/15" is the message plastered to Jared Muston's bike.  On that date in 2007, he received a devastating diagnosis.  What he thought was mono turned out to be Hodgkin's lymphoma - blood cancer.  Just a few days from beginning his college career at the University of Texas, Muston instead had to endure 12 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation.  He was in remission by January of 2008 and began cycling soon after, following the example of fellow cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. 

This summer, Muston and over 50 other UT students and cancer survivors will journey 4,687 miles from Austin to Anchorage in the 7th Texas 4000 to raise money for awareness and research.  You can follow his journey, twice as long as the Tour de France, here and read more about the ride here.

Andrea Bearce for the Wall Street Journal

Spent a few hours with Andrea Bearce in central Austin for a story on young adults and their financial connections to their parents.  Bearce is a freelance food writer and pastry chef and was generous with her time and banana/chocolate-chip cookies.  You can read Karen Blumenthal's story here.

The editors over at the journal were great in communicating their vision for a graphic grid.

Drowning in Debt for the Wall Street Journal

Cynthia Mason of Volente, Texas, reduced her mortgage payments through the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) but is still underwater with debt payments. The 49-year-old former school secretary is battling cancer and has legal expenses, credit card debt, and a car loan in addition to the mortgage. "This was supposed to be our dream home, but it's turned into a nightmare," said Mason.

You can read more of Mason's story here.

UIL State Golf for the Dallas Morning News

Frisco Wakeland's Megan Pasternick reacts to a missed putt on the 18th hole during the Girls' 4A State finals at Jimmy Clay golf course on Austin on May 11, 2010, in Austin, Texas.

Medina Valley's Curtis Reed expresses frustration after missing a putt on hole #18 during the UIL 4A State Championships in Austin on May 11, 2010, in Austin, Texas. Reed thought the stroke might cost him the championship, but he prevailed with +1 for the day and a two day score of 143. At right, Reed is embraced by mother Laura Reed. "It was the last hole of his high school career. I've been on every green in every tournament," said Laura Reed.

Frisco Wakeland's Taylor Newlan smiles after officially being declared the Girls' UIL 4A State Champion. Newlan won the title with a two day total score of 144.

around the neighborhood

twilight

VFW Wedding in Leander, Texas.

Soccer State Semi-Finals for the Dallas Morning News

It was a rough night for Westlake goalie Dylan Shoemaker (1). The Dallas Jesuit Rangers steamrolled the Chaparrals 4-0 in the 5A semi-finals on their way to becoming the first private school in history to win a Texas state championship.

Westlake goalie Dylan Shoemaker (1), right, and defender David Lukert (12), left, watch as a kick from Jesuit midfielder Oscar Martinez (17), center, rolls toward an open goal during the first half of the Boys 5A semi-finals in Georgetown, Texas.

Westlake Steven Duever (13), left, collides with his goalie Dylan Shoemaker (1), center, during the second half as Jesuit forward David Reilly (19), right, looks on during the Class 5A boys soccer semifinal in Georgetown, Texas on April 8, 2010.

The Jesuit Ranger student section embraces senior midfielder Mark Daus (24), left, as Matthew Fredericks (3), center, congratulates Daniel Givonetti (5), right, after their 4-0 Class 5A boys semifinal win over the Westlake Chaparrals.

Buddhist Inquiry for the Statesman

Wrapping up my religion coverage (for now) -

The Appamada center in central Austin hosts weekly inquiry sessions during the Tuesday lunch hour. Flint Sparks, a psychologist and ordained Zen Buddhist priest, leads a short meditation followed by dilemmas or issues presented by the members.  Sparks then addresses the problems using a combination of Buddhist teachings, psychology practice and other influences.

A camera sounds more like a machine gun when photographing meditation.  The Inquiry group graciously allowed me to challenge their powers of concentration.  The space was calm, centered, and filled with light.  You can read more about Austin's Buddhist temples and practitioners here.