Tag: portrait

Alasdair, piping among the pines and palms at Kiwanis Park, Tempe, Arizona.

He has been playing bagpipes for about 13 years. 

“Before I was born my father declared that his sons would play the pipes. My ancestors were Scots and Welsh and Irish. Some Danish too. 

“I like playing here. It’s the only park where I play that I don’t get asked to leave. There are no houses or apartments nearby.”

He played a rousing Scottish march for me, in 6/8 time. Why the English ever thought they could subjugate people capable of making such stirring music is a wonder. 

Alasdair, piping among the pines and palms at Kiwanis Park, Tempe, Arizona.

He has been playing bagpipes for about 13 years. 

“Before I was born my father declared that his sons would play the pipes. My ancestors were Scots and Welsh and Irish. Some Danish too. 

“I like playing here. It’s the only park where I play that I don’t get asked to leave. There are no houses or apartments nearby.”

He played a rousing Scottish march for me, in 6/8 time. Why the English ever thought they could subjugate people capable of making such stirring music is a wonder. 

National Park People: Susan, at Tuzigoot National Monument, Arizona. 

Susan has been proudly wearing the volunteer uniform at Tuzigoot for two whole weeks.

“I always wanted to work for the Park Service, but I did social work instead. I think it’s really nice so far. I love it when I can help answer someone’s questions, and I love the history of the Sinaguan people [the builders of the Tuzigoot pueblo] and their culture.

“My girlfriends do think the uniform is pretty funny. For some reason the birds seem attracted to it!”

National Park People: Susan, at Tuzigoot National Monument, Arizona. 

Susan has been proudly wearing the volunteer uniform at Tuzigoot for two whole weeks.

“I always wanted to work for the Park Service, but I did social work instead. I think it’s really nice so far. I love it when I can help answer someone’s questions, and I love the history of the Sinaguan people [the builders of the Tuzigoot pueblo] and their culture.

“My girlfriends do think the uniform is pretty funny. For some reason the birds seem attracted to it!”

National Park People: Shaun, at Tonto National Monument, Arizona.

Shaun got his start with the National Park Service at Cuyahoga Valley National Park near his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. He was later stationed at the Maybry Mill unit of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. 

“I had only been there six days when I had to do my first interpretive lecture, on insects. I could have used the help of an entomologist back then. I did learn to do flatfooting [clogging] when local musicians would play mountain music there.”

He has been at Tonto National Monument for only a few months. Tonto is ranked in the top twenty least visited parks in the NPS system. 

“We are not a destination park. Most visitors come here on their way to other recreation opportunities in the Tonto Valley. I don’t get lonely, despite the isolation. The scenery, the air, the dark skies here are a great compensation.” 

National Park People: Shaun, at Tonto National Monument, Arizona.

Shaun got his start with the National Park Service at Cuyahoga Valley National Park near his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. He was later stationed at the Maybry Mill unit of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. 

“I had only been there six days when I had to do my first interpretive lecture, on insects. I could have used the help of an entomologist back then. I did learn to do flatfooting [clogging] when local musicians would play mountain music there.”

He has been at Tonto National Monument for only a few months. Tonto is ranked in the top twenty least visited parks in the NPS system. 

“We are not a destination park. Most visitors come here on their way to other recreation opportunities in the Tonto Valley. I don’t get lonely, despite the isolation. The scenery, the air, the dark skies here are a great compensation.” 

I walked into town the other day to get a replacement battery for my watch at McNabb Fine Jewelry. While I waited I met the proprietor, Wil McNabb, and we chatted while he replaced the missing inlay on a turquoise ring:

“I was attenting NAU (Northern Arizona University) on the G.I. Bill in the early 70s, and kind of fell into this work. I’d been working at a supermarket in town, and a friend told me about a job at the local jewelers. I’d always been good working with my hands. Back then there were only about 17,000 people living in Flagstaff. I’ve been able to build a nice business and a nice life doing this." 

Please click any photo in the set for enlarged views.

I walked into town the other day to get a replacement battery for my watch at McNabb Fine Jewelry. While I waited I met the proprietor, Wil McNabb, and we chatted while he replaced the missing inlay on a turquoise ring:

“I was attenting NAU (Northern Arizona University) on the G.I. Bill in the early 70s, and kind of fell into this work. I’d been working at a supermarket in town, and a friend told me about a job at the local jewelers. I’d always been good working with my hands. Back then there were only about 17,000 people living in Flagstaff. I’ve been able to build a nice business and a nice life doing this." 

Please click any photo in the set for enlarged views.