Redtandem comes home

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October 29, 2022

The white Toyota hybrid pulled up outside our little apartment on Calle de Santiago in right on time and we jumped in. The rush hour was brutal for getting out of the Old Quarter of Madrid, but we had planned an hour to get to the airport and it was plenty. The Madrid airport is big, beautiful and designed amazingly well for a smooth experience. Even when there are long lines they move along rapidly and everyone in helpful and polite. We grabbed our last breakfast in Spain and gave a sigh of relief. There would be no unwelcome complication getting on our plane to Chicago.

Chicago was as expected, the city of Big Shoulders, or maybe more appropriately, the city of Big Lines and the city of expensive airport food. But we put up with it and by 9:30 pm we were in Grand Rapids and our dear friend Sarah picked us up. Our little backpacks looked ridiculously tiny compared to the giant suitcases thumping out of the baggage machine. Yes we learned how to get by on a minimum.

Arriving back in Grand Rapids the question arises, how do you want this trip to be transformative? How do you want to carry the Camino with you going forward? For us it is keeping things simple, having awareness of our bodies, the world and the people around us. And maybe also, taking the time to reflect and write about daily experiences and ongoing photographic projects.

Our lives will not suddenly become endlessly entertaining. We will have boring days and disappointments, as well as small victories. But I have been encouraged to continue Red Tandem as a commentary on the life that we see as we continue moving through the twists and turns of life, and a medium for presenting photographic projects. So, for those of you who want to continue following along, thank you! Others can cancel their subscription and not be bothered by another regular email.

In a spirit of wabi sabi, or appreciation of decay, death and incompleteness, I took a moment to observe an abandoned drive through window.
Light and shadows hit a Heritage Hill home as the leaves begin to fall.
Sugar maples at the highlands drop their leaves.
A young father changes a diaper. The circle of life moves on.

2 thoughts on “Redtandem comes home”

  1. Michael Bruinooge (h)

    Eric, I enjoyed your RedTandem entries immensely and am so glad to have been included in their distribution. Count me in as one who is delighted that you’ll continue the blog.

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