maryshelsby's photostream  

Finally got to take my first shots of 2012 during a quick drive through Letchworth State Park. Which of the two do you like best?

Finally got to take my first shots of 2012 during a quick drive through Letchworth State Park. Which of the two do you like best?

I got to spend Christmas weekend in my hometown of Baltimore. Christmas Eve morning I gathered with my family in the inter-city at Lexington Market where we ate oysters, crabcakes and beer for breakfast. It's a long standing family tradition and lots of fun.

On our way to the market, we walked through some very crowded streets in a not-so glamorous part of the city. In one sense, it was scary but it was also very sad to see so many people with so little and looking so tired and worn-out from a very difficult life. And this was on a joyous day. It is hard to believe that there are so many bleak lives in America in 2011.

I know there are also people struggling in Rochester but it doesn't seem quite so visible as it was in Baltimore. All in all, I think we made it through the great recession a bit easier than many other parts of the country. I guess my walk through Baltimore just reminded me to be thankful for all that I have.

Best wishes for the new year. Stay safe in your celebrations and may 2012 bring you lots of photo ops.