New Year’s Eve - Andei Leaving…

It’s hard to believe my daughter Andei is flying back to Sicily tomorrow. We’ve had an absolutely wonderful visit these past ten days. She has to get back to school next week and I start up at the college on the 2nd of January. I’m glad she was able to visit with her family and friends in addition to spending a day in NYC and some time with her brother Adam and his family. We crammed a lot into a short period of time. Tomorrow I’m driving Andei to Raleigh, NC to catch her flight to Kennedy then on to Zurich and eventually Sicily. It will be a long travel day for her I’m sure. Her recent visit made me realize what an incredible and supportive family we have - not only my family, but my children and their relatives families as well. Families come in all forms these days and there is no doubt mine is as unconventional as they come. I don’t see that as being an issue as long as we all support and show love and respect for one another. It’s great that we can visit and enjoy special time with my x wife’s side of the family and even share a dinner with Adam’s mother Robin and her husband Willie. Anyway…I consider myself very lucky to have such great friends and family who I can count on and they can count on me.

Andei on Beach 1996 - Book Project Photo 

There is so much going on in the year ahead. I have my BOOK project that is shaping up nicely, Adam graduates UNCW this Spring and I’m planning on taking both Andei and Adam to Ireland sometime this summer. I’ve committed to teaching extra online courses so to help Adam with his college expenses - yes, I’ll be extremely busy with my freelance work over and above my regular teaching and distance learning duties. Adam graduating from college is the prize at the end and I don’t mind working a little harder to see him through. It has been a long road and this chapter is coming to an end.

It’s New Year’s Eve. I don’t have any special plans except to enjoy my daughter one more day. It’s almost 9:00AM and I need to wake her up and get on with our day.

Christmas in New York

Journal Entry
December 23, 2007

Andei at Mom & Dad’s House on Long Island

Andei and I had an enjoyable day visiting New York City yesterday. My daughter has such a passion for her photography, She’s constantly searching “looking” for that next unique photographic opportunity. Her camera is always at the ready - her eyes scanning the environment for interesting and unique compositions. I made a lot of photographs in Manhattan, but Andei took more than double what I shot. She is serious a shooter and has a hyper sensitive eye for textures, lines, shapes and colors that interrelate over and above subject matter itself. Even though I’ve been photographing for over 30 years, I believe Andei’s eye is more intuitive rather than coming from any training, or my or her mother’s influence, although I’m sure these are factors also contributing to her love for art and photography.

Stairway at NYC Library by Andei Keough

There’s no better place to be during the Christmas season than Manhattan. Instead of going to the museums like we normally do Andei and I just walked around, shopped, took lots of photographs and basically enjoyed the sights, sounds and buzz of the city at Christmas time. Rockefeller Center, the giant Christmas tree, Times Square, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Macy’s and navigating our way through the throngs of people in the streets. Here we sit on the train heading back to my parents home on Long Island and she is still photographing through the grimy window of this moving train.

The train is pulling into our station in St. James. We had a wonderful and fun filled day together in the city. It is hard to believe Andei lives in Sicily, Italy. I hate she lives so far away from me, however there is no doubt living overseas has been a broadening and enriching experience for her.

When she returns its as if we have never been apart - time and distance have not seemed to hurt our relationship. We love to be together, make photographs and take adventures.

more NY Photos…..

Sabrett Hot Dog Vendor Photo by Patrick Keough

St. Patrick’s Cathedral Spires (Blue Filter) by Andei Keough

Ice Cold Beer by Patrick Keough

Andei Shooting me photographing Times Square

Train Ride back to Long Island by Patrick Keough

Little Girl with Pink Boots by Andei Keough

Dad shooting at Times Square by Andei Keough

St. Patrick Cathedral Alter by Andei Keough

Little Boy playing in Mirror by Andei

Andei shooting at Times Square by Patrick Keough 

 

______________________

 

 

 

Christmas Break…Wheew!

It’s hard to believe another semesters flown by. I’ve posted final grades for all my various art and photo courses except one. I’ll get those submitted first thing tomorrow morning. The past 6 months have been incredibly hectic between my regular teaching duties, freelance “online” teaching and my distance learning duties at Carteret. It is going to be great to have a 2 week break. I’m not sure how much of a break it’s going to be considering I am driving to Long Island, NY Wednesday and then picking my daughter Andei up at Kennedy Airport the 21st of December. I am really looking forward to seeing her. I haven’t seen my daughter since last August. We’re planning to spend some time with family on Long Island (her Grandparents & cousins) and also go into Manhattan to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the new Modern (MOMA) - there is suppose to be some great photo exhibits at both museums + we plan to do some photographing in the city.

I feel good about the progress I’ve made on the “Book”. I hired a graphic designer to come up with some book design concepts for my cover and inside pages. Basically I want a creative template (design scheme) that I can drop my photos and journal entries into. Once I have that it will just be a matter of working in chronological order from 1977 - 2007.

Me Photographing Adam - Photo by Adam Keough 1989

I plan on having 5 photos per year and 5 journal excerpts in addition to placing a contact sheet of those selected photos under each chapter (year). Essentially all the raw material (photos, journals) are already done - its just a matter of editing the photos and selecting the journal excerpts and finishing up the scanning. It is not a project to be rushed - this is a monumental work in progress and I am going to chip away at it incrementally until I get it finished - like I said in an earlier post…it is a labor of love and a gift to everyone in this world who has impacted my life journey in some way.

Contact Sheet of Photos 1987-89

Tomorrow I am wrapping things up at work. Dropping some Christmas cards and gifts off to my special friends and colleagues then hopefully get a good nights sleep and head out for my New York adventure. As I said…I can’t wait to see my lovely daughter Andei. It’s not easy being a single Dad and not seeing my girl for months at a time. It used to be harder on me emotionally, but now I am getting used to it and I try to make the most out of the special time I do have with her. We also talk on the phone every week so that keeps us connected.

Adam called me yesterday with great news. He busted out some terrific grades at UNCW for Fall semester. All our hard work is paying off. He is actually graduating this coming spring. Now that will be a celebration! I am so very proud of both my children and am a very lucky and blessed father.

Wishing all who read the KEOBLOG a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

My Book Project Continued…

Journaling, Ocracoke 1992

I continue to plod methodically along on my book project. Just editing through and scanning my huge negative archive is a monumental task in itself. I woke up early and got caught up with all my online courses - hard to believe this semester is rapidly coming to an end. The next two weeks are going to be hectic to say the least with final exams, projects and averaging/posting grades for all my courses. I spent 2 hours scanning more negatives for the book today.

Amberlie, Adam and Friend, 1992

Its funny how the pictures don’t lie. The photographs I’ve taken over the past 30 years tell it all. They tell a story. These pictures of my family, friends and environments has given me deeper insight and clarity. The more I work on this project, the better I understand myself and the people that shared and impacted my life.

Adam at Atlantic Beach / Amberlei holding Andei 1992

Even though I’ve been divorced (more than once) many of my images show good, positive and loving relationships. Sure there were some tough, heartbreaking times, however, there was also a great deal of fun, love and joy and that’s what I want to remember and savor about the past.

Shadow Portrait of Stacy, Andei and I, 1992

I hope to continue learning from the mistakes and difficult times of the past, but not dwell or let them eat away at me. It’s time to move on once and for all - enjoy the present moment, my children, extended family and wonderful friends. This book of photographs and journal entires is a cathartic journey and hopefully will communicate a story that readers can relate to and possibly learn from.

Adam and his B B Gun, 1994

Andei picking flowers, 1995