San Francisco, California
Getting enough of this wispy dancer in focus takes an act of infinite patience. And a little bit of hard-to-come-by dexterity, given how hidden its small patch is beneath the calla lilies. I'm not good at stooping anymore and worse at getting back up. The slightest breeze or the wrong f-stop will make 9/10ths of a single 4-inch stalk look mush, or overwhelm the delicate flower with background noise. I've taken dozens of shots over weeks to get the right angle, the right light, the perfect open flower. "Fancy Trails" foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) it's called, and that very name demands that I keep working to get a shot that does it justice.
I choose this flower as my tribute to the medical professionals fighting to keep everyone alive and safe, which may seem strange, given how delicate and fragile the foamflower is. The nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, hospital and senior care facility work staff, are obviously as strong as all the online/video tributes say they are. Unbelievably strong. Tenacious and full of heart. I tear up hourly at the stories of their bravery. But some of the first person accounts I've read lately (here's one that paints a vivid picture: https://kristenfmartins.wordpress.com/…/running-out-of-out…/?), have reminded me that, like every soldier in every war, their heroism comes at a price. Continual exposure to danger and trauma, combined with exhaustion and fear for their own safety and that of their families take a toll. Surviving emotionally is a delicate act. Swaying with the wind, maintaining focus - the metaphors abound.
As a country, we are failing to keep these brave Covid warriors as safe as they should expect to be, forcing them to work in dangerous conditions without adequate protection. And still they fight on. For us. Will we be surprised, and will we be ready to support them when they come out of this - as most soldiers do - with some level of PTSD? How will we thank them? How will we help them maintain their fragile balance within the confines and demands of a more 'normal' life?